Silver nanoparticles in tumor microenvironment modulation: Mechanistic insights, preclinical evidence, and translational challenges.

Abstract

One of the world's major health challenges is cancer, which arises from sequential genetic and epigenetic alterations leading to tumor development and progression. The tumor microenvironment (TME), which consists of heterogeneous stroma and immune cells, is central to cancer progression, angiogenesis, immune evasion, and metastasis. TME modulation has become a potential strategy for cancer prevention and therapy. Nanoparticles of silver (AgNPs) possess distinct physicochemical characteristics that make them attractive candidates for therapeutic use via their capacity to generate oxidative stress, impair intracellular mechanisms, and impact immune signaling. This review elucidates not only the features and components of the TME, but also explains the synthesis and mechanisms of action of AgNPs, and puts in context their various applications in nanomedicine and cancer treatment. Although AgNPs show promising anticancer activity, toxicity, environmental risk, and clinical translation are still dominant areas for future research.