Polymeric micelles for anticancer drug delivery

Polymeric micelles have gained interest as novel drug delivery systems for the treatment and diagnosis of cancer, as they offer several advantages over conventional drug therapies. This includes drug targeting to tumor tissue, in vivo biocompatibility and biodegradability, prolonged circulation time, enhanced accumulation, retention of the drug loaded micelle in the tumor and decreased side effects. This article provides an overview on the current state of micellar formulations as nanocarriers for anticancer drugs and their effectiveness in cancer therapeutics, including their clinical status. The type of copolymers used, their physicochemical properties and characterization as well as recent developments in the design of functional polymeric micelles are highlighted. The article also presents the design and outcomes of various types of stimuli-responsive polymeric micelles.