Micellar Drug Delivery Systems Based on Natural Biopolymers

Abstract

The broad diversity of structures and the presence of numerous functional groups available for chemical modifications represent an enormous advantage for the development of safe, non-toxic, and cost-effective micellar drug delivery systems (DDS) based on natural biopolymers, such as polysaccharides, proteins, and peptides. Different drug-loading methods are used for the preparation of these micellar systems, but it appeared that dialysis is generally recommended, as it avoids the formation of large micellar aggregates. Moreover, the preparation method has an important influence on micellar size, morphology, and drug loading efficiency. The small size allows the passive accumulation of these micellar systems via the permeability and retention effect. Natural biopolymer-based micellar DDS are high-value biomaterials characterized by good compatibility, biodegradability, long blood circulation time, non-toxicity, non-immunogenicity, and high drug loading, and they are biodegraded to non-toxic products that are easily assimilated by the human body. Even if some recent studies reported better antitumoral effects for the micellar DDS based on polysaccharides than for commercial formulations, their clinical use is not yet generalized. This review is focused on the studies from the last decade concerning the preparation as well as the colloidal and biological characterization of micellar DDS based on natural biopolymers.

The Hydrophobic Effect in Chemistry, Biology and Medicine: An Update

“…Thus, micelles were an important addition to the middle ground between monophasic and biphasic systems, which apparently paved the way for the modern era of nanoscience. Over a century or so since its inception, the micelle concept has evolved in sophistication beyond the original aims concerning surfactants and detergency, with recent applications [15][16][17][18] being directed towards vesicles, drug delivery systems, etc.…”

pH and Reduction Dual-Responsive Bi-Drugs Conjugated Dextran Assemblies for Combination Chemotherapy and In Vitro Evaluation

“…Importantly, dextran is a kind of FDA-approved natural polymer. Several studies have reported the use of dextran and its derivatives as nanocarriers for cancer imaging and therapy [ 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ]. Herein, we prepare a novel pH and reduction dual-sensitive polymeric prodrug oDex-g-Pt+DOX, in which Pt (IV) prodrug was conjugated to the oxidized dextran (oDex) as reduction-sensitive segment, and then DOX was conjugated via acid-cleavable hydrazone bond ( Scheme 1 ).…”

Refining the Design of Diblock Elastin-Like Polypeptides for Self-Assembly into Nanoparticles

“…Polymers exhibiting a UCST have been studied for the development of drug delivery systems to release therapeutics under hyperthermic conditions [ 9 ]. In contrast, LCST-polymers come in a wider variety and comprise synthetic polymers such as poly( N -isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) [ 10 ], the most extensively studied LCST-polymer, but also poly(oligo ethylene glycol methacrylate) (P(OEGMA)) [ 11 ], poly(2-oxazoline) (POx) [ 12 ], polypeptoids [ 13 ], poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) [ 14 ] and certain block copolymers [ 15 , 16 ].…”