Stimuli-responsive nanoscale drug delivery systems for cancer therapy

Abstract

Currently, with the rapid development of nanotechnology, novel drug delivery systems have made rapid progress, in which nanocarriers play an important role in the tumor treatment. In view of the conventional chemotherapeutic drugs with many restrictions such as non-specific systemic toxicity, short half-life and low concentration in the tumor sites, stimuli-responsive drug delivery systems can deliver anti-tumor drugs targeting to the specific sites of tumors. Owing to precise stimuli response, stimuli-responsive drug delivery systems can control drug release, so as to improve the curative effects, reduce the damage of normal tissues and organs, and decrease the side effects of traditional anti-cancer drugs. At present, according to the physicochemical properties and structures of nanomaterials, they can be divided into three categories: 1) endogenous stimuli-responsive materials, including pH, enzyme and redox responsive materials; 2) exogenous stimuli-responsive materials, such as temperature, light, ultrasound and magnetic field responsive materials; 3) multi-stimuli responsive materials. This review mainly focuses on the researches and developments of these novel stimuli-responsive drug delivery systems based on above-mentioned nanomaterials and their clinical applications.

Polymers and Polymer Nanocomposites for Cancer Therapy

“…In contrast to conventional chemotherapeutic drugs with many restrictions, stimuli-responsive delivery systems can carry antitumor drugs that target the specific sites of a tumor. Due to a precise stimuli response effect, drug delivery systems can control the release, reduce the damage to normal tissue and organs, and decrease side effects [16].…”

“…In contrast to conventional chemotherapeutic drugs with many restrictions, stimuli-responsive delivery systems can carry antitumor drugs that target the specific sites of a tumor. Due to a precise stimuli response effect, drug delivery systems can control the release, reduce the damage to normal tissue and organs, and decrease side effects [16].Polyester/ether urethanes (PURs) can be an interesting alternative for the preparation of nanocarriers in the place of traditionally used biodegradable polyesters. PURs can be easily designed to modulate a hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance and to embed specific functionalities, thus representing a promising solution as a targeted delivery system [17].Poly (cyclotriphosphazene-co-dopamine) microspheres as controlled drug carriers were investigated using acriflavine as a model drug.…”

Staggered Herringbone Microfluid Device for the Manufacturing of Chitosan/TPP Nanoparticles: Systematic Optimization and Preliminary Biological Evaluation

“…A variety of biocompatible, biodegradable, synthetic or natural polymers, as such or chemically modified for tuning NPs features in terms of surface charge, drug cargo and release, active targeting or stimuli-responsive behavior have been extensively studied [7][8][9][10][11].…”

Efficacious Doxorubicin Delivery Using Glutathione‐Responsive Hollow Non‐phospholipid Vesicles Bearing Lipoyl Cholesterols

“…The design and development of biocompatible drug delivery systems remains a promising and lead approach towards desirable outcomes for anticancer therapies . Towards achieving these therapeutic goals, the development of bioresponsive nanocarriers that respond to either exogenous (e.g., changes in temperature and magnetic field) or endogenous (e.g., changes in pH and redox potential) stimuli has been rigorously studied over the last ten years . Bio‐responsive systems have the potential to address key issues in anticancer therapy, such as inefficient drug delivery, tumour‐cell‐specific targeting and the development of resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs .…”

“…[1,2] To wards achieving these therapeutic goals,t he development of bioresponsive nanocarrierst hat respondt oe ither exogenous (e.g.,c hanges in temperature and magnetic field) or endogenous( e.g., changes in pH and redoxp otential) stimuli hasb een rigorously studied over the last ten years. [3][4][5] Bio-responsive systemsh ave the potential to address key issues in anticancer therapy,s uch as inefficient drugd elivery,t umour-cell-specific targetinga nd the development of resistancet oc hemotherapeutic drugs. [4,[6][7][8] The existingp lethora of drug transport vehicles is composed of several types of nano-andm icro-structured self-assemblies of amphiphiles.…”