Multifunctional anticancer nanomedicine based on a magnetically responsive cyanoacrylate polymer

The therapeutic effect of antitumor molecules (efficacy and safety) is severely limited by their poor pharmacokinetic characteristics. Recently, the use of colloids has been proposed for the delivery of anticancer drugs to tumor cells, thereby providing a significant advance toward new treatments with improved specificity. In this respect, magnetically responsive nanopolymers are probably one of the most promising materials. In this contribution, we describe the basic steps to be followed in the development of such composite nanoplatforms. Starting from the formulation procedure, we detail the physicochemical engineering of these nanomedicines for combined antitumor activities (anticancer drug delivery plus hyperthermia effect). The key features determining drug incorporation to the nanomaterial are analyzed. Such stimuli-sensitive nanoparticles have promising properties (e.g., blood compatibility, hyperthermia, magnetic targeting capabilities, high drug loading, and little burst drug release), which could be used for efficient multifunctional anticancer therapy.