Poly(Ethylene Glycol)–Polylactide Micelles for Cancer Therapy

Abstract

For the treatment of malignancy, many therapeutic agents, including small molecules, photosensitizers, immunomodulators, proteins and genes, and so forth, have been loaded into nanocarriers for controllable cancer therapy. Among these nanocarriers, polymeric micelles have been considered as one of the most promising nanocarriers, some of which have already been applied in different stages of clinical trials. The successful advantages of polymeric micelles from bench to bedside are due to their special core/shell structures, which can carry specific drugs in certain disease conditions. Particularly, poly(ethylene glycol)–polylactide (PEG–PLA) micelles have been considered as one of the most promising platforms for drug delivery. The PEG shell effectively prevents the adsorption of proteins and phagocytes, thereby evidently extending the blood circulation period. Meanwhile, the hydrophobic PLA core can effectively encapsulate many therapeutic agents. This review summarizes recent advances in PEG–PLA micelles for the treatment of malignancy. In addition, future perspectives for the development of PEG–PLA micelles as drug delivery systems are also presented.

Smart Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery Application: Development of Versatile Nanocarrier Platforms in Biotechnology and Nanomedicine

“…Poly(lactic Acid) (PLA) and Poly(lactic-co-glycolide) (PLGA) Copolymers. Among all the commonly used biodegradable synthetic polymeric (bio)materials, the most employed for drug delivery applications are the saturated poly(α-hydroxy esters), including poly(lactic acid) (PLA), poly(glycolic acid) (PGA), and poly(lactic-co-glycolide) (PLGA) copolymers [20][21][22][23][24]. Due to their excellent safety profile, good biocompatibility, low levels of immunogenicity and toxicity, and the tuneable rate of biodegradation in vivo, these polymers have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) as effective carriers for drug delivery in humans.…”

Self-Assembly of Organic Nanomaterials and Biomaterials: The Bottom-Up Approach for Functional Nanostructures Formation and Advanced Applications

“…Moreover, self-assembly of amphiphilic block copolymers represents a versatile tool for the design of versatile nanocarriers for drug delivery applications. More specifically, the di-and tri-block copolymer of poly(ethylene glycol)/polylactide (PEG/PLA) systems, in the form of both polymer micelles and vesicles (polymersome), are attractive delivery systems since they are biodegradable with a good safety profile and sustained drug delivery [84,85]. The presence of the PEG on the nanocarrier shell prevents the unwanted adsorption of proteins and phagocytes, thereby increasing the period of the blood circulation, while the PLA hydrophobic core can efficiently encapsulate a variety of therapeutic agents [12,80].…”

“…biodegradable with a good safety profile and sustained drug delivery [84,85]. The presence of the PEG on the nanocarrier shell prevents the unwanted adsorption of proteins and phagocytes, thereby increasing the period of the blood circulation, while the PLA hydrophobic core can efficiently encapsulate a variety of therapeutic agents [12,80].…”

“…The presence of the PEG on the nanocarrier shell prevents the unwanted adsorption of proteins and phagocytes, thereby increasing the period of the blood circulation, while the PLA hydrophobic core can efficiently encapsulate a variety of therapeutic agents [12,80]. Block copolymers micelles, polymersomes and bicontinuous phases exhibit an enhanced efficiency in solubilizing relevant doses of hydrophobic and hydrophilic drugs ( Figure 9A) [85,86]. Figure 9.…”

Application of radially grown ZnO nanowires on poly-l-lactide microfibers complexed with a tumor antigen for cancer immunotherapy

“…28 This organic material has been successfully applied to vaccine development for infectious diseases and cancers. [29][30][31][32][33] However, recent studies have reported that a similar organic material, poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA), can also induce immune tolerance against the associated peptides for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, depending on particle size, shape, composition, and route of administration. 34,35 It was shown that tolerogenic effects require PLGA microparticle uptake by macrophages expressing the scavenger receptor MARCO and are, in part, mediated by the activity of regulatory T cells, abortive T-cell activation and T-cell anergy.…”