Recent advances in applying poly-epsilon-caprolactone for controlled delivery and targeting release of chemical anti-tumor drugs were summarized in this mini-review. Benefited from the efforts of scientists all over the world, various chemotherapeutic drug delivery systems based on different formulations of poly-epsilon-caprolactone related materials have been evaluated. It has been widely recognized that the introduction of of poly-epsilon-caprolactone components into drug delivery systems would increase drug loading capacity, decrease leakage, prolong releasing period and result in controllable releasing rate. Especially with the development of environment-responsive delivery systems (pH-, thermo-, magnetic field- and light-responsive drug carriers), enhanced tumor cell targeting potential, as well as decreased systemic toxicity would be realized.

In recent years, the environmental problems accompanying the extensive application of biomedical polymer materials produced from fossil fuels have attracted more and more attentions. As many biomedical polymer products are disposable, their life cycle is relatively short. Most of the used or overdue biomedical polymer products need to be burned after destruction, which increases the emission of carbon dioxide (CO2). Developing biomedical products based on CO2 fixation derived polymers with reproducible sources, and gradually replacing their unsustainable fossil-based counterparts, will promote the recycling of CO2 in this field and do good to control the greenhouse effect. Unfortunately, most of the existing polymer materials from renewable raw materials have some property shortages, which make them unable to meet the gradually improved quality and property requirements of biomedical products. In order to overcome these shortages, much time and effort has been dedicated to applying nanotechnology in this field. The present paper reviews recent advances in nanocomposites of CO2 fixation derived reproducible polymers for biomedical applications, and several promising strategies for further research directions in this field are highlighted.