Solid lipid nanoparticles in the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer: A comprehensive review of two decades of advancements.

[BACKGROUND] Prostate cancer (PC) is one of the most prevalent malignancies among men, with a staggering 1.5 million new cases and 350,000 deaths reported globally in 2022. Conventional treatment methods, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, and hormonal therapy, often encounter significant challenges such as systemic toxicity and diminished efficacy, particularly in the advanced stages of the disease. Treatment of prostate cancer remains a formidable challenge because of the poor water solubility of many chemotherapeutic agents, which severely limits their bioavailability. However, the rise of targeted therapies has catalyzed the development of innovative drug delivery systems designed to enhance the bioavailability and precision of therapeutic agents. Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) are a promising solution that can effectively encapsulate chemotherapeutic agents and genetic materials. Their unique attributes, such as biocompatibility, controlled release profile, and customizable surface properties, make them advantageous alternatives to conventional treatment strategies, effectively addressing the inherent limitations of prostate cancer therapy.

[METHODS] To provide the context, relevant publications were searched on Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Dimension AI, and EBSCO Host using specific keywords such as controlled drug release, cationic surfactants, drug delivery, drug loading, drug encapsulation lipid, prostate cancer, surface modification, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), tumor microenvironment, to list a few. We did not add any limits to the publication date during the inclusion of papers. However, it is noteworthy that the initial reports including the aforementioned keywords have been published starting from 2010.

[CONCLUSION] SLNs demonstrate substantial potential as effective nanocarriers for precise delivery of chemotherapeutic agents and genetic materials to prostate cancer cells. Their targeted delivery to these cells by surface modification with suitable ligands, antigens, peptides, and other recognition molecules has enhanced therapeutic efficacy. Further research on the interaction of SLN with the tumor environment is imperative to fully comprehend the uptake pathways. Extensive translation and preclinical studies are required to determine the safety and efficacy of SLNs before their use in clinical settings.