Cyclodextrin-Based Arsenal for Anti-Cancer Treatments

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Nanotechnology
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Many anti-cancer drugs exhibit poor physicochemical and biopharmaceutical properties, primarily low solubility, which limits their therapeutic potential.
• Poor solubility hinders effective drug formulation and targeted delivery, necessitating innovative solutions in cancer therapy.

Approach:

• Cyclodextrin (CD) complexation is explored as a key strategy to enhance the solubility of hydrophobic anti-cancer drugs.
• CD-based nanotechnological approaches, including liposomes, nanoparticles, micelles, and nano-sponges, are investigated for improved drug encapsulation and targeted delivery.

Key Points:

• CD-based nanocarriers demonstrate safety, stability, and good in vivo tolerance for hydrophobic drug encapsulation.
• Various CD-based formulations like liposomes, niosomes, nanoparticles, and magnetic nanoparticles are reviewed for anti-cancer drug delivery.
• The review covers diverse applications including monoclonal antibodies, small interfering RNA, and nanorods incorporating cyclodextrins.

Conclusions:

• Cyclodextrin-based nanotechnologies present a viable strategy to overcome solubility challenges in anti-cancer drug delivery.
• Further research into the shortcomings and future directions of these systems is essential for clinical translation.