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Review
. 2020 Mar 25;12(4):298.
doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics12040298.

Polymeric Nanocarriers of Drug Delivery Systems in Cancer Therapy

Nataša Avramović  1 , Boris Mandić  2 , Ana Savić-Radojević  3 , Tatjana Simić  3   4
Affiliations
Review

Polymeric Nanocarriers of Drug Delivery Systems in Cancer Therapy

Nataša Avramović et al. Pharmaceutics. .

Abstract

Conventional chemotherapy is the most common therapeutic method for treating cancer by the application of small toxic molecules thatinteract with DNA and causecell death. Unfortunately, these chemotherapeutic agents are non-selective and can damage both cancer and healthy tissues,producing diverse side effects, andthey can have a short circulation half-life and limited targeting. Many synthetic polymers have found application as nanocarriers of intelligent drug delivery systems (DDSs). Their unique physicochemical properties allow them to carry drugs with high efficiency,specificallytarget cancer tissue and control drug release. In recent years, considerable efforts have been made to design smart nanoplatforms, including amphiphilic block copolymers, polymer-drug conjugates and in particular pH- and redox-stimuli-responsive nanoparticles (NPs). This review is focused on a new generation of polymer-based DDSs with specific chemical functionalities that improve their hydrophilicity, drug loading and cellular interactions.Recentlydesigned multifunctional DDSs used in cancer therapy are highlighted in this review.

Keywords: block copolymers; cancer therapy; polymer-drug conjugates; polymeric nanocarriers.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic illustration of multifunctional drug delivery systems.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Types of polymeric nanocarriers.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Mechanism of action of pH-responsive polymer nanoparticles(NPs) decorated with targeting ligand folic acid (FA) and with the drug doxorubicin(DOX)bound via a hydrazone bond to diblock copolymerPoly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(ε-caprolactone)(PEG-PCL).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Mechanism of action of redox-responsive polymernanoparticles (NPs) with bonded drug PTX via a disulfide linker to diblock copolymerPoly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)(PEG-b-PHEMA).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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