Final answer:
In oncology, large delta values are expected due to the Enhanced Permeability and Retention (EPR) effect, which allows for the selective accumulation and retention of therapeutic agents in tumor tissues.
Step-by-step explanation:
In oncology, large delta values are expected due to the phenomenon known as the Enhanced Permeability and Retention (EPR) effect. This effect is commonly observed in solid tumors, where the tumor vasculature is characterized by leaky blood vessels with large gaps between endothelial cells. These gaps allow for the passive accumulation of nanoparticles and drugs in the tumor tissue, leading to a high concentration and retention of the therapeutic agents.
For example, in a study by Tseng et al., magnetothermally-responsive doxorubicin loaded supramolecular magnetic nanoparticles (Dox-SMNPS) of different sizes were injected into tumor-bearing mice. The study found that the smaller nanoparticles (70 nm) showed a considerably higher accumulation at the tumor site compared to the larger ones (100 nm and 160 nm), indicating a larger delta value.
Therefore, in oncology, large delta values are expected as a result of the EPR effect, which allows for the selective accumulation and retention of therapeutic agents in tumor tissues.