Multi-functional polymeric nanoparticles for tumour-targeted drug delivery

Abstract

The use of nanoparticles as drug delivery vehicles for anticancer therapeutics has great potential to revolutionise the future of cancer therapy. As tumour architecture causes nanoparticles to preferentially accumulate at the tumour site, their use as drug delivery vectors results in the localisation of a greater amount of the drug load at the tumour site; thus improving cancer therapy and reducing the harmful nonspecific side effects of chemotherapeutics. In addition, formulation of these nanoparticles with imaging contrast agents provides a very efficient system for cancer diagnostics. Given the exhaustive possibilities available to polymeric nanoparticle chemistry, research has quickly been directed at multi-functional nanoparticles, combining tumour targeting, tumour therapy and tumour imaging in an all-in-one system, providing a useful multi-modal approach in the battle against cancer. This review will discuss the properties of nanoparticles that allow for such multiple functionality, as well as recent scientific advances in the area of multi-functional nanoparticles for cancer therapeutics.

Synthesis of folate- pegylated polyester nanoparticles encapsulating ixabepilone for targeting folate receptor overexpressing breast cancer cells

“…Furthermore, due to its low melting point (T m = 44°C), which is close to the physiological body temperature [9,10], PPSu could be used as drug nanocarrier appropriate for selective drug release at the tumor site using local hyperthermia. In order to avoid the rapid removal of these nanoparticles from systemic circulation after intravenous administration, due to rapid uptake by reticular endothelial system (RES), pegylated PPSu nanoparticles based on PEG-PPSu copolymers have been developed [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18]. Although pegylation of nanoparticles surface can lead to their preferential accumulation in tumor tissue due to the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) phenomenon, it does not appear to increase the uptake of nanoparticles, and consequently of their drug load, by cancer cells [19].…”

“…FA can be conjugated to polymers after modification by an appropriate ''spacer'' (i.e. -NH 2 -CH 2 -CH 2 -SH-) that maintain its activity and functionality [5,18,21]. The ixabepilone-loaded FA-PEG-PPSu nanoparticles were prepared by a modified w/o/w emulsification and solvent evaporation process and characterized for their physicochemical and drug release properties.…”

Multiparticulate Combined Approaches for Colon Specific Drug Delivery

“…and nanoparticles could be efficiently taken up by these macrophages 60 . They offer the excellent possibility of surface modification with targeting ligands, leading to a specific accumulation in the targeted tissue 61 . Recently Jain et al, developed Hyaluronic acid-coupled chitosan nanoparticles bearing oxaliplatin encapsulated in Eudragit S100-coated pellets.…”

Anti-HIV therapy: pipeline approaches and future directions

“…Recently, after successful implementation of nanotechnology-based drug delivery system against cancer (van Vlerken et al, 2006) the polymer-based nanoparticles, liposomes, nanoemulsions, dendrimers and micellar technologies ) are being used in AIDS also to overcome several anatomical & physiological barriers and transport therapeutic agents locally at the site of HIV. For example, Saquinavir, a member of protease inhibitor class, potent to inhibit protease-mediated cleavage of gag and pol polyproteins in HIV genome, is encapsulated efficiently in biodegradable hydrophobic polymeric nanoparticles, made with poly(ethylene oxide)-modified poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PEO-PCL) ) and therefore finally preventing the post-translational processing required for maturation and spreading of virus.…”