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Polymalic Acid-based Nano Biopolymers for Targeting of Multiple Tumor Markers: An Opportunity for Personalized Medicine?
Published on: June 13, 2014
Nanostructured Polymer Scaffolds in Local Chemotherapy in Solid Tumors
Chitrali Talele1, Chintan Aundhia1, Dipali Talele2
1Department of Pharmacy, Sumandeep Vidyapeeth Deemed to be University, Piparia, Waghodia, Vadodara, 391760, Gujarat, India.
Current Drug Targets
|June 2, 2026
Summary
Nanostructured polymer scaffolds offer localized chemotherapy for solid tumors, overcoming drug resistance and toxicity. These advanced systems improve treatment precision and patient outcomes, showing strong potential for future cancer therapies.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Oncology
- Drug Delivery Systems
Background:
- Conventional chemotherapy faces challenges like multidrug resistance, poor tumor penetration, and systemic toxicity in solid tumors.
- Scaffold-based localized chemotherapy presents a solution by enabling direct drug delivery to the tumor site with controlled, sustained release.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review nanostructured polymer scaffolds for localized chemotherapy in solid tumors.
- To explore various scaffold types, materials, and drug incorporation strategies.
- To assess the therapeutic potential and translational readiness of these advanced systems.
Main Methods:
- Review of electrospun nanofiber scaffolds, injectable hydrogels, 3D-printed scaffolds, and composite biomaterial scaffolds.
- Analysis of biodegradable and bioresponsive polymers (e.g., PLGA, PCL, chitosan, hyaluronic acid).
- Examination of drug incorporation strategies (surface loading, encapsulation, soaking) and their impact on scaffold properties and drug release.
Main Results:
- Preclinical studies show scaffold systems enhance local drug concentration, reduce systemic toxicity, and improve outcomes in various cancers (breast, glioblastoma, colorectal, pancreatic).
- Advanced scaffolds (dual-drug, stimuli-responsive, immunomodulatory) show potential for tumor microenvironment modulation, recurrence prevention, and enhanced antitumor immunity.
- While technologies like electrospinning are established, advanced methods like 4D bioprinting are still in early development, impacting translational readiness.
Conclusions:
- Nanostructured polymer scaffolds are a promising strategy for localized chemotherapy, overcoming systemic delivery limitations.
- These platforms enhance treatment precision, improve patient outcomes, and hold significant translational potential for next-generation cancer therapeutics.
- Scaffolds offer theranostic potential, combining drug delivery with tissue support, microenvironment modulation, and biological system integration.
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