Systemic and Local Silk-Based Drug Delivery Systems for Cancer Therapy
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Updated: Oct 13, 2025
Manufacture and Drug Delivery Applications of Silk Nanoparticles
Published on: October 8, 2016
Anna Florczak1,2, Tomasz Deptuch1,2, Kamil Kucharczyk1,2
1Department of Cancer Immunology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-866 Poznan, Poland.
Abstract:
For years, surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy have been the gold standards to treat cancer, although continuing research has sought a more effective approach. While advances can be seen in the development of anticancer drugs, the tools that can improve their delivery remain a challenge. As anticancer drugs can affect the entire body, the control of their distribution is desirable to prevent systemic toxicity. The application of a suitable drug delivery platform may resolve this problem. Among other materials, silks offer many advantageous properties, including biodegradability, biocompatibility, and the possibility of obtaining a variety of morphological structures. These characteristics allow the exploration of silk for biomedical applications and as a platform for drug delivery. We have reviewed silk structures that can be used for local and systemic drug delivery for use in cancer therapy. After a short description of the most studied silks, we discuss the advantages of using silk for drug delivery. The tables summarize the descriptions of silk structures for the local and systemic transport of anticancer drugs. The most popular techniques for silk particle preparation are presented. Further prospects for using silk as a drug carrier are considered. The application of various silk biomaterials can improve cancer treatment by the controllable delivery of chemotherapeutics, immunotherapeutics, photosensitizers, hormones, nucleotherapeutics, targeted therapeutics (e.g., kinase inhibitors), and inorganic nanoparticles, among others.
Insights
Silk biomaterials offer a promising solution for targeted cancer therapy, improving drug delivery and reducing systemic toxicity. This review explores silk structures for effective local and systemic delivery of various anticancer agents.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Cancer Therapy
Background:
- Traditional cancer treatments like surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy have limitations, including systemic toxicity.
- Developing effective drug delivery systems is crucial for enhancing anticancer drug efficacy and minimizing side effects.
- Silk's unique properties, such as biodegradability and biocompatibility, make it a potential candidate for advanced drug delivery platforms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review silk-based structures for local and systemic drug delivery in cancer therapy.
- To discuss the advantages of utilizing silk as a drug delivery platform.
- To explore various silk preparation techniques and future prospects for silk in cancer treatment.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of silk structures for drug delivery applications in cancer.
- Analysis of silk properties relevant to drug encapsulation and release.
- Summary of techniques for preparing silk-based drug delivery systems.
Main Results:
- Silk offers advantageous properties like biodegradability and biocompatibility for drug delivery.
- Various silk structures can be engineered for controlled local and systemic delivery of anticancer agents.
- Silk can carry diverse therapeutic agents, including chemotherapeutics, immunotherapeutics, and targeted drugs.
Conclusions:
- Silk-based drug delivery systems show significant potential to improve cancer treatment outcomes.
- Controllable delivery of therapeutics via silk can enhance efficacy and reduce systemic toxicity.
- Further research into silk biomaterials will advance their application in targeted cancer therapy.
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