Therapeutic approaches of silver nanoparticles against pancreatic cancer

Abstract

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive malignancy, and conventional therapeutic approaches have not produced substantial clinical advantages, with invasive surgery being the sole curative option for patients in the early stages of the illness. It is among the most aggressive and lethal carcinomas, with a five-year survival rate of fewer than 11%. Despite advances in traditional therapies including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, the likelihood of survival is still poor due to late-stage detection, extensive stromal barriers, and intrinsic chemoresistance. The recent development in nanotechnology has opened new opportunities for targeted therapy, with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) showing considerable potential due to their unique physicochemical properties, such as high surface reactivity, localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), and ability to penetrate tumour microenvironments. This review investigates AgNPs synthesis approaches, with an emphasis on chemical and green approaches. Green synthesis, which uses plant and algae extracts, provides a sustainable, biocompatible, and environmentally friendly alternative with increased therapeutic value. AgNPs' biological efficacy against PDAC is demonstrated via many molecular routes. AgNPs also show potential as drug carriers for targeted delivery, combating multidrug resistance, and improving the efficacy of traditional medicines through synergistic action. AgNPs shows cytotoxic effects on pancreatic cancer via various mechanism including paraptosis, autophagy and apoptosis. This review consolidates our understanding of AgNPs-mediated therapeutic processes and emphasizes their translational promise in addressing the challenges of current pancreatic cancer treatments. Future research should focus on refining AgNPs design for clinical safety, effectiveness, and targeted administration, opening the path for nanomedicine-based pancreatic cancer treatments.