Folate-conjugated nanovehicles: Strategies for cancer therapy

Cancer theranostics represents a strategy that aims at combining diagnosis with therapy through the simultaneous imaging and targeted delivery of therapeutics to cancer cells. Recently, the folate receptor alpha has emerged as an attractive theranostic target due to its overexpression in multiple solid tumors and its great functional versatility. In fact, it can be incorporated into folate-conjugated nano-systems for imaging and drug delivery. Hence, it can be used along the line of personalized clinical strategies as both an imaging tool and a delivery method ensuring the selective transport of treatments to tumor cells, thus highlighting its theranostic qualities. In this review, we will explore these theranostic characteristics in detail and assess their clinical potential. We will also discuss the technological advances that have allowed the design of sophisticated folate-based nanocarriers harboring various chemical properties and suited for the transport of various therapeutic agents. •FRα is overexpressed in many solid tumors and represents an attractive theranostic target.•FRα can be used as a tag in folate-conjugated nanoparticles for imaging and diagnosis in FRα-positive tumors.•FRα can be used as a tag in folate-conjugated nanocarriers for delivery of various therapeutic drugs to FRα-positive tumors.•FRα is an attractive target for the development of anti-FRα immune therapies.