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Review
. 2018 Aug 27;23(9):2157.
doi: 10.3390/molecules23092157.

Enhancing the Delivery of Chemotherapeutics: Role of Biodegradable Polymeric Nanoparticles

Jyoti Ahlawat  1 , Gabriela Henriquez  2 , Mahesh Narayan  3
Affiliations
Review

Enhancing the Delivery of Chemotherapeutics: Role of Biodegradable Polymeric Nanoparticles

Jyoti Ahlawat et al. Molecules. .

Abstract

While pharmaceutical drugs have revolutionized human life, there are several features that limit their full potential. This review draws attention to some of the obstacles currently facing the use of chemotherapeutic drugs including low solubility, poor bioavailability and high drug dose. Overcoming these issues will further enhance the applicability and potential of current drugs. An emerging technology that is geared towards improving overall therapeutic efficiency resides in drug delivery systems including the use of polymeric nanoparticles which have found widespread use in cancer therapeutics. These polymeric nanoparticles can provide targeted drug delivery, increase the circulation time in the body, reduce the therapeutic indices with minimal side-effects, and accumulate in cells without activating the mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS). Given the inroads made in the field of nanodelivery systems for pharmaceutical applications, it is of interest to review and emphasize the importance of Polymeric nanocarrier system for drug delivery in chemotherapy.

Keywords: chemotherapeutic drugs; drug delivery; drug toxicity; mononuclear phagocyte system; polymeric nanoparticles.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic representation of (a) bottom-up; and (b) top-down approach.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Schematic illustration of nanocarriers for the delivery of drug.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Schematic illustration of (a) nanocapsule; and (b) nanosphere.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Solvent evaporation method.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Solvent diffusion method.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Salting out method.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Nanoprecipitation method.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Ion gelation method.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Most common type of cancer in 2018 reported by the American Cancer Society.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Schematic illustration of (a) Passive targeting; (b) Active targeting.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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