Stimuli-responsive drug delivery systems for head and neck cancer therapy

Abstract

Head and neck cancer (HNC) is among the most common malignancy that has a profound impact on human health and life quality. The treatment for HNC, especially for the advanced cancer is stagedependent and in need of combined therapies. Various forms of adjuvant treatments such as chemotherapy, phototherapy, hyperthermia, gene therapy have been included in the HNC therapy. However, there are still restrictions with traditional administration such as limited in situ therapeutic effect, systemic toxicity, drug resistance, etc. In recent years, stimuli-responsive drug delivery systems (DDSs) have attracted the great attention in HNC therapy. These intelligent DDSs could respond to unique tumor microenvironment, external triggers or dual/multi stimulus with more specific drug delivery and release, leading to enhanced treatment efficiency and less reduced side effects. In this article, recent studies on stimuli-responsive DDSs for HNC therapy were summarized, which could respond to endogenous and exogenous triggers including pH, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), reactive oxygen species (ROS), redox condition, light, magnetic field and multi stimuli. Their therapeutic remarks, current limits and future prospect for these intelligent DDSs were discussed. Furthermore, multifunctional stimuli-responsive DDSs have also been reviewed. With the modification of drug carriers or co-loading with therapeutic agents. Those intelligent DDSs showed more biofunctions such as combined therapeutic effects or integration of diagnosis and treatment for HNC. It is believed that stimuli-responsive drug delivery systems showed great potential for future clinic translation and application for the treatment of HNC.

Identification of Biomarkers Associated with Cancerous Change in Oral Leukoplakia Based on Integrated Transcriptome Analysis

“…Meanwhile, the drug efficacy of the patients with OSCC was influenced by the exogenous drug catabolic process. Endogenous and external triggers such as pH, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), reactive oxygen species (ROS), redox conditions, light, and magnetic fields could activate the stimulating response drug delivery system and improve the prognosis [ 32 ].…”

Key Points in Remote-Controlled Drug Delivery: From the Carrier Design to Clinical Trials

“…The implication of light-responsive delivery systems is based on the photodynamic or photothermal therapy approaches, which means the utilization of the light energy to generate the reactive oxygen species or induce hyperthermia [149,150] (Figure 8). Furthermore, light-induced hyperthermia can be used to trigger the drug release from delivery carriers in case they are modified with the proper heat mediator [151]. The gold (Au) nanoparticles are often employed as they are biocompatible and able to convert the delivered light energy to heat with high efficiency due to the surface plasmon resonance.…”

“…Schematic illustration of light-responsive drug delivery systems including smart delivery systems employing photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy (PDT), delivery systems employing heat mediators such as gold nanoparticles for photothermal therapy (PTT), and directly lighttriggered release delivery systems. Reproduced with permission from[151]. Copyright Informa UK Limited.…”

Engineering Macrophages via Nanotechnology and Genetic Manipulation for Cancer Therapy

“…As mentioned above, tumor blood vessels have increased permeability, which allows NPs to pass through the leaky endothelium; meanwhile, due to defective lymphatic drainage, the extraverted NPs can accumulate in the tumor interstitium, leading to an increased local drug concentration, a process known as the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) ( 29 ). However, in many cases, the passive mechanism and EPR are not sufficient ( 29 ), and by active targeting strategies, such as ligand-mediated systems ( 30 ), stimulus-responsive systems ( 31 ), and biological system ( 32 ), the efficiency of NP targeted delivery can be improved. For example, most tumors have an increased rate of glycolysis, leading to an acidic environment due to the accumulation of lactic acid.…”