Polymeric Micelles for Cancer Drug Delivery and Targeting

University of California Irvine, Physical Department, 92697, Irvine, United States

^* Corresponding author: yuyanw7@uci.edu

Abstract

Over the past years, the emergence of various therapeutic approaches has attracted so much consideration, but chemotherapy remains the most effective way in experimental practice. However, due to obstacles and difficulties, there is a limitation for the additional clinical presentation of the outdated chemical treatments such as paclitaxel and doxorubicin. Some of the barriers are severe side effects, profound cytotoxicity, and low therapeutic efficacy. Drug delivery systems (DDS) such as polymeric micelles have been technologically advanced over the recent decades to advance the treatment efficacy and lessen the side effects incurred. The polymeric micelles self-assembled from amphiphilic polymers serve to sum up hydrophobic treatments in the core and regulate the discharge profile of the drugs through response towards stimuli of the tumor microenvironments, which in this case are pH, temperature, light, and reduction.