Self-Assembled Nanocarriers Based on Amphiphilic Natural Polymers for Anti- Cancer Drug Delivery Applications

Title:Self-Assembled Nanocarriers Based on Amphiphilic Natural Polymers for Anti- Cancer Drug Delivery Applications

Volume: 23 Issue: 35

Author(s): Sally Sabra, Mona Abdelmoneem, Mahmoud Abdelwakil, Moustafa Taha Mabrouk, Doaa Anwar, Rania Mohamed, Sherine Khattab, Adnan Bekhit, Kadria Elkhodairy, May Freag and Ahmed Elzoghby*

Affiliation:

• Cancer Nanotechnology Research Laboratory (CNRL), Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21521,Egypt

Keywords: Amphiphilic polymers, self-assembled micelles, polysaccharides, proteins, anti-cancer drugs, tumor-targeting.

Abstract: Background: Micellization provides numerous merits for the delivery of water insoluble anti-cancer therapeutic agents including a nanosized ‘core–shell' drug delivery system. Recently, hydrophobically-modified polysaccharides and proteins are attracting much attention as micelle forming polymers to entrap poorly soluble anti-cancer drugs.

Method: By virtue of their small size, the self-assembled micelles can passively target tumor tissues via enhanced permeation and retention effect (EPR). Moreover, the amphiphilic micelles can be exploited for active-targeted drug delivery by attaching specific targeting ligands to the outer micellar hydrophilic surface.

Results: Here, we review the conjugation techniques, drug loading methods, physicochemical characteristics of the most important amphiphilic polysaccharides and proteins used as anti-cancer drug delivery systems. Attention focuses on the mechanisms of tumor-targeting and enhanced anti-tumor efficacy of the encapsulated drugs. This review will highlight the remarkable advances of hydrophobized polysaccharide and protein micelles and their potential applications as anti-cancer drug delivery nanosystems.

Conclusion: Micellar nanocarriers fabricated from amphiphilic natural polymers hold great promise as vehicles for anti-cancer drugs.

Cite this article as:

Sabra Sally , Abdelmoneem Mona, Abdelwakil Mahmoud, Mabrouk Taha Moustafa , Anwar Doaa , Mohamed Rania , Khattab Sherine, Bekhit Adnan, Elkhodairy Kadria, Freag May and Elzoghby Ahmed *, Self-Assembled Nanocarriers Based on Amphiphilic Natural Polymers for Anti- Cancer Drug Delivery Applications, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2017; 23 (35) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612823666170526111029