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Smart drug delivery systems for precise cancer therapy
Xiaoyou Wang1, Chong Li1, Yiguang Wang2
1College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
Abstract:
Nano-drug delivery strategies have been highlighted in cancer treatment, and much effort has been made in the optimization of bioavailability, biocompatibility, pharmacokinetics profiles, and in vivo distributions of anticancer nano-drug delivery systems. However, problems still exist in the delicate balance between improved anticancer efficacy and reduced toxicity to normal tissues, and opportunities arise along with the development of smart stimuli-responsive delivery strategies. By on-demand responsiveness towards exogenous or endogenous stimulus, these smart delivery systems hold promise for advanced tumor-specificity as well as controllable release behavior in a spatial-temporal manner. Meanwhile, the blossom of nanotechnology, material sciences, and biomedical sciences has shed light on the diverse modern drug delivery systems with smart characteristics, versatile functions, and modification possibilities. This review summarizes the current progress in various strategies for smart drug delivery systems against malignancies and introduces the representative endogenous and exogenous stimuli-responsive smart delivery systems. It may provide references for researchers in the fields of drug delivery, biomaterials, and nanotechnology.
Insights
Smart nano-drug delivery systems offer improved cancer treatment by targeting tumors specifically. These responsive systems aim to enhance efficacy while minimizing toxicity to healthy tissues.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Oncology
Background:
- Nano-drug delivery systems are crucial for cancer treatment, focusing on bioavailability and pharmacokinetics.
- Challenges remain in balancing anticancer efficacy with reduced normal tissue toxicity.
- Smart stimuli-responsive strategies offer enhanced tumor specificity and controlled spatiotemporal release.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current progress in smart drug delivery systems for cancer treatment.
- To introduce representative endogenous and exogenous stimuli-responsive systems.
- To provide references for researchers in drug delivery, biomaterials, and nanotechnology.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of smart drug delivery strategies.
- Analysis of stimuli-responsive mechanisms (endogenous and exogenous).
- Discussion of nanotechnology, material sciences, and biomedical sciences advancements.
Main Results:
- Smart delivery systems demonstrate potential for improved tumor targeting and controlled drug release.
- Diverse modern drug delivery systems exhibit smart characteristics, versatility, and modification possibilities.
- Progress in nanotechnology and material sciences facilitates advanced drug delivery.
Conclusions:
- Stimuli-responsive nano-drug delivery systems represent a promising frontier in oncology.
- These systems offer a pathway to overcome limitations of conventional nano-drug delivery.
- Further research in this interdisciplinary field is essential for clinical translation.
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