Controlled release nanoplatforms for three commonly used chemotherapeutics

Abstract

In order to combat an evolving, multidimensional disease such as cancer, research has been aimed at synthesizing more efficient and effective versions of popular chemotherapeutic drugs. Despite these efforts, there remains a necessity for the development of suitable delivery vehicles that can both harness the chemotherapeutic effects meanwhile reducing some of the known issues when using these drugs such as unwanted side-effects, acquired drug resistance, and associated difficulties with drug delivery. Synthetic drug discovery approaches focusing on modification of the native structure of these chemotherapeutic drugs often face challenges such as loss of efficacy, as well as a potential worsening of side-effects. Synthetic chemists are then left with increasingly narrow choices for possible chemistry they could implement to achieve the desired therapy. The emergence of targeted therapies using controlled-release nanomaterials can provide many opportunities for conventional chemotherapeutic drugs to be delivered to specific target sites, ultimately leading to reduced side-effects and improved efficacy. Logically, it may prove advantageous to consider nano-delivery systems as a likely candidate for circumventing some of the barriers associated with creating viable drug therapies. In this review, we summarize controlled release nanoformulations of the three most widely used and approved chemotherapeutics, doxorubicin, paclitaxel, and cisplatin as an alternative therapeutic approach against different cancer types.

Keywords: Cancer therapy; Cisplatin; Clinical trials; Doxorubicin; Nanotherapeutic platform; Taxol®.

Fig. 1.

Schematic representation of structures of cisplatin, paclitaxel, and doxorubicin, use in different cancer types, and listed adverse effects.

Fig. 2.

Mechanisms of action of Cisplatin, Paclitaxel and Doxorubicin.

Fig. 3.

Schematic representation of a nanomaterial targeting to tumor site through EPR effect and characteristics of the phenomenon.

Fig. 4.

(A) Different types of delivery vehicles used in cancer therapy. (B) Tunability of polymeric nanomaterials to achieve enhanced drug delivery.

Fig. 5.

Illustration of passive and active tumor targeting of nanomaterials to the tumor along with advantages and disadvantages.

Fig. 6.

Nano-formulations of cisplatin, paclitaxel, and doxorubicin which are either FDA approved or under clinical trials for various malignancies. Information collected from U.S. National Library of Medicine, Clinicaltrial.gov.

Fig. 7.

Future prospect of nanomedicine using the knowledge of cancer biology and taking advantage of passive and active targeting.