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Updated: Jun 14, 2025
Preparation and Characterization of Individual and Multi-drug Loaded Physically Entrapped Polymeric Micelles
Published on: August 28, 2015
Functionalized Polymeric Micelles for Targeted Cancer Therapy: Steps from Conceptualization to Clinical Trials
Ana Serras1, Célia Faustino1, Lídia Pinheiro1
1Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa (ULisboa), Avenida Professor Gama PintoGama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal.
Abstract:
Cancer is still ranked among the top three causes of death in the 30- to 69-year-old age group in most countries and carries considerable societal and macroeconomic costs that differ depending on the cancer type, geography, and patient gender. Despite advances in several pharmacological approaches, the lack of stability and specificity, dose-related toxicity, and limited bioavailability of chemotherapy (standard therapy) pose major obstacles in cancer treatment, with multidrug resistance being a driving factor in chemotherapy failure. The past three decades have been the stage for intense research activity on the topic of nanomedicine, which has resulted in many nanotherapeutics with reduced toxicity, increased bioavailability, and improved pharmacokinetics and therapeutic efficacy employing smart drug delivery systems (SDDSs). Polymeric micelles (PMs) have become an auspicious DDS for medicinal compounds, being used to encapsulate hydrophobic drugs that also exhibit substantial toxicity. Through preclinical animal testing, PMs improved pharmacokinetic profiles and increased efficacy, resulting in a higher safety profile for therapeutic drugs. This review focuses on PMs that are already in clinical trials, traveling the pathways from preclinical to clinical studies until introduction to the market.
Insights
Polymeric micelles (PMs) offer a promising nanomedicine approach to overcome chemotherapy limitations. These smart drug delivery systems (SDDSs) enhance drug efficacy and safety, advancing cancer treatment from preclinical to clinical stages.
Area of Science:
- Nanomedicine and Drug Delivery Systems
- Oncology Therapeutics
Background:
- Cancer remains a leading cause of death, with chemotherapy facing challenges like toxicity, poor bioavailability, and multidrug resistance.
- Nanomedicine has emerged as a field to develop advanced therapeutics with improved properties.
- Smart drug delivery systems (SDDSs) are crucial for enhancing drug delivery and therapeutic outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review polymeric micelles (PMs) as a specific type of SDDS for cancer therapy.
- To focus on PMs that have progressed from preclinical studies to clinical trials.
- To examine the journey of PM-based nanotherapeutics towards market introduction.
Main Methods:
- Review of scientific literature focusing on nanomedicine and polymeric micelles in cancer treatment.
- Analysis of preclinical data and clinical trial progress for PM-based nanotherapeutics.
- Evaluation of the development pathway from laboratory research to clinical application.
Main Results:
- Polymeric micelles effectively encapsulate hydrophobic and toxic drugs, improving stability and bioavailability.
- Preclinical studies demonstrate enhanced pharmacokinetic profiles, increased therapeutic efficacy, and improved safety of PMs.
- Several PM formulations are advancing through clinical trials, indicating their therapeutic potential.
Conclusions:
- Polymeric micelles represent a significant advancement in nanomedicine for cancer treatment.
- PMs demonstrate potential to overcome major limitations of conventional chemotherapy.
- The progression of PMs into clinical trials highlights their promise for future cancer therapies.
