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Updated: Jul 13, 2026
Preparation and Characterization of Individual and Multi-drug Loaded Physically Entrapped Polymeric Micelles
Published on: August 28, 2015
Preclinical and clinical studies of anticancer drug-incorporated polymeric micelles
1Investigative Treatment Division, Research Center for Innovative Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Chiba, Japan.
Abstract:
Tumour-targeted delivery of therapeutic agents is a longstanding pharmacological goal to improve selectivity and Therapeutic Index. Most scientists have sought to use 'active' receptor-mediated tumour-targeting systems, however the 'passive' targeting afforded by the Enhanced Permeability and Retention (EPR) effects provides a versatile and non-saturable opportunity for tumour-selective delivery. Polymeric micelles are ideally suited to exploit the EPR effect, and they have been used for the delivery of a range of anticancer drugs in preclinical and clinical studies. Here I overview some of the more important approaches, assessing usefulness and seeking to identify the most promising ways to apply the phenomenon of passive targeting for improved clinical outcome.
Insights
Passive targeting using polymeric micelles exploits the Enhanced Permeability and Retention (EPR) effect for selective tumor drug delivery. This approach offers a promising, non-saturable strategy for improving anticancer therapeutic outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Biotechnology
- Oncology
Background:
- Tumor-targeted drug delivery aims to enhance selectivity and therapeutic index.
- Active targeting strategies often rely on receptor-mediated interactions.
- Passive targeting via the Enhanced Permeability and Retention (EPR) effect offers a versatile alternative.
Purpose of the Study:
- To overview approaches utilizing the EPR effect for tumor-selective delivery.
- To assess the usefulness of passive targeting strategies.
- To identify promising applications of passive targeting for improved clinical outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Review of preclinical and clinical studies on polymeric micelles for drug delivery.
- Analysis of the Enhanced Permeability and Retention (EPR) effect in tumor targeting.
- Assessment of polymeric micelle suitability for exploiting the EPR effect.
Main Results:
- Polymeric micelles are well-suited to leverage the EPR effect for passive tumor targeting.
- The EPR effect provides a non-saturable mechanism for drug accumulation in tumors.
- Various anticancer drugs have been delivered using this approach in studies.
Conclusions:
- Passive targeting via the EPR effect and polymeric micelles is a promising strategy for cancer therapy.
- Further research can optimize the application of this phenomenon for enhanced clinical outcomes.
- This approach offers a versatile and potentially more effective method for tumor-selective drug delivery.
