P-selectin is a nanotherapeutic delivery target in the tumor microenvironment

P-selectin is a molecule expressed on active blood vessels, such as those found in tumors. To take advantage of this observation, Shamay et al. designed nanoparticles containing fucoidan, a polysaccharide that specifically binds to P-selectin, and demonstrated that these can deliver a variety of chemotherapeutic drugs to tumors. In addition, the authors demonstrated that radiation treatment stimulates expression of P-selectin in tumors that do not normally express it, successfully expanding the range of tumor types that can be targeted by fucoidan nanoparticle treatment.