Enzymes reloaded: Nanotechnology's role in the next generation of cancer therapies

Despite tremendous advancements in detection and treatment, cancer continues to rank among the world's top causes of morbidity and mortality. Systemic toxicity, drug resistance, and poor tumor selectivity are common limitations of conventional treatments such chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. Because therapeutic enzymes may catalyze certain biochemical events that impair cancer cell metabolism or accelerate tumor destruction, they have become attractive medicines for targeted cancer therapy in recent decades. L-asparaginase is the most popular and efficient enzyme for treating acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), although other enzymes including collagenase, streptokinase, uricase, and L-asparaginase have also shown clinical and preclinical promise. Their wider use is hampered by issues including immunogenicity, short circulation half-life, and off-target effects. Through novel approaches to nano-encapsulation, including as polymeric, metallic, and magnetic nanoparticles, liposomes, virosomes, extracellular vesicles, and vault nanoparticles, nanotechnology provides creative answers to these constraints. These approaches lessen immunogenic reactions while improving tumor targeting, enabling regulated release, and enhancing enzyme stability. Additionally, multifunctional nanocarriers can provide precision treatment and real-time monitoring by combining therapy and diagnostics (theranostics). The historical evolution, categorization, and processes of therapeutic enzymes, developments in nano-formulation techniques, instances of nanomedicine in cancer treatment, and preclinical and clinical research are all included in this study. Lastly, outlooks for the future emphasize the combination of nanotechnology and enzyme engineering to provide next-generation cancer treatments with improved safety, effectiveness, and selectivity.