Advances in Nanotherapy for Targeting Senescent Cells

Aging is an inevitable process in the human body, and cellular senescence(definition) refers to irreversible cell cycle arrest caused by external aging-promoting mechanisms. Moreover, as age increases, the accumulation of senescent cells limits both the health of the body and lifespan and even accelerates the occurrence and progression of age-related diseases. Therefore, it is crucial to delay the periodic irreversible arrest and continuous accumulation of senescent cells to address the issue of aging. The fundamental solution is targeted therapy focused on eliminating senescent cells or reducing the senescence-associated secretory phenotype. Over the past few decades, the remarkable development of nanomaterials has revolutionized clinical drug delivery pathways. Their unique optical, magnetic, and electrical properties effectively compensate for the shortcomings of traditional drugs, such as low stability and short half-life, thereby maximizing the bioavailability and minimizing the toxicity of drug delivery. This article provides an overview of how nanomedicine systems control drug release and achieve effective diagnosis. By presenting and analyzing recent advances in nanotherapy for targeting senescent cells, the underlying mechanisms of nanomedicine for senolytic and senomorphic therapy are clarified, providing great potential for targeting senescent cells.