Nanoscale Polymersomes as Anti-Cancer Drug Carriers Applied for Pharmaceutical Delivery

Title:Nanoscale Polymersomes as Anti-Cancer Drug Carriers Applied for Pharmaceutical Delivery

Volume: 22 Issue: 19

Author(s): Ruslan G. Tuguntaev, Chukwunweike Ikechukwu Okeke, Jing Xu, Chan Li, Paul C. Wang and Xing-Jie Liang

Affiliation:

Keywords: Polymersomes, amphiphilic block copolymers, pharmaceutical delivery, hydrophobic drugs, hydrophilic drugs, co-loading, preparation methods.

Abstract: Polymersomes are self-assembled nano-vesicles composed of amphiphilic block copolymers. These building blocks can be selected from a large number of hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymers in order to achieve required properties of the final system, such as biodegradability, sustainable and multiple stimuli-response drug release, long blood circulation, and low toxicity. Moreover, the surface of polymersomes can be functionalized to induce targeting character. Polymersomes are able to encapsulate a broad range of hydrophilic or/and hydrophobic molecules either in the aqueous core or membrane bilayer, respectively. In addition, colloidal stability and low membrane fluidity make polymersomes attractive nano-sized drug carriers. The review describes polymersomes compositions, their applications in pharmaceutical delivery, and preparation methods.

Cite this article as:

Tuguntaev G. Ruslan, Okeke Ikechukwu Chukwunweike, Xu Jing, Li Chan, Wang C. Paul and Liang Xing-Jie, Nanoscale Polymersomes as Anti-Cancer Drug Carriers Applied for Pharmaceutical Delivery, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2016; 22 (19) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612822666160217142319