Oral Delivery of Anticancer Agents Using Nanoparticulate Drug Delivery System

Abstract

Background: Conventionally, anti-cancer agents were administered through the intravenous route. The major drawbacks associated with the intravenous route of administration are: severe side effects, need of hospitalization, nursing care, and palliative treatment. In order to overcome the drawbacks associated with the intravenous route of administration, oral delivery of anti-cancer agents has gained tremendous interest among the scientific fraternity. Oral delivery of anti-cancer agents principally leads to a reduction in the overall cost of treatment, and aids in improving the quality of life of patients. Bioavailability of drugs and inter-subject variability are the major concerns with oral administration of anti-cancer agents. Factors viz. physicochemical and biological barriers (pre-systemic metabolism and transmembrane efflux of the drug) are accountable for hampering oral bioavailability of anti-cancer agents can be efficiently overcome by employing nanocarrier based drug delivery systems. Oral delivery of anticancer agents by employing these drug delivery systems will not only improve the quality of life of patients but will also provide pharmacoeconomic advantage and lead to a reduction in the overall cost of treatment of life-threatening disease like cancer. Objective: This article aims to familiarize the readers with some of the recent advancements in the field of nanobased drug delivery systems for oral delivery of anticancer agents. Conclusion: Advancement in the field of nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems has opened up gateways for the delivery of drugs that are difficult to administer orally. Oral delivery of anti-cancer agents by these drug delivery systems will not only improve the quality of life of patients but will also provide pharmacoeconomic advantage and lead to a reduction in the overall cost of treatment of life-threatening disease like cancer.

Efficient Oral Delivery of Poorly Water-Soluble Drugs Using Carnitine/Organic Cation Transporter 2-Mediated Polymeric Micelles

“…Oral administration is the most favorable and preferable modality because of its convenience, simplicity, better patient acceptability, and low cost . Unfortunately, some drugs are difficult to achieve desirable oral absorption due to a common problem on poor water solubility and limited intestinal permeability. − Several strategies, such as chemical modification of drug molecules and formulation technologies, , have been applied to enhance the oral absorption of such drugs. Recently, nanocarrier technology has offered a ray of hope to overcome these barriers. − Polymeric micelles have been proved to be one of the most up-and-coming nanocarriers due to their thermodynamic stability, − increased solubility and stability of drugs, , long-term blood circulation, prolonged retention time in the gut through mucoadhesion, and better transport ability across the intestinal epithelium. ,− Further, suppression of P-gp-mediated drug efflux is also provided by polymeric micelles to improve the cellular uptake .…”

Insights on the Dynamic Innovative Tumor Targeted-Nanoparticles-Based Drug Delivery Systems Activation Techniques

“… 14 , 15 In contrast, using pH activated NPs protects the cargo, controlling its release, mainly, at the target site (ileum). 16 Indeed, it seems like hiding the drug to escape from the stomach acidic pH, like a policeman and thief ( Figure 2A ). So, the drug release from the NPs commences only in the intestinal alkaline pH.…”

Recent advances in lipid-engineered multifunctional nanophytomedicines for cancer targeting

“…Apart from the polymeric nanoparticles, other nanotechnology driven drug delivery systems were also developed like nanostructured lipidic carriers, solid lipid nanoparticles, dendrimers, polymeric micelles, liposomes, nanoemulsion, and many more, for the anticancer delivery via oral route. Apart from this, oral route has been blessed with various advantages like self-administration by patients, ease of administration and no monitoring required for chemotherapeutic and area of interest for the formulation scientist in the oncology area [83,84].…”