Drug Loading and Controlled Release Mechanisms
Abstract
Nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems have been shown to be a promising method to improve the effectiveness and safety of anticancer drugs. The traditional chemotherapy drugs used to treat cancer are toxic and non-selective, and typically have a high systemic toxicity and multidrug resistance, low bioavailability, and strong side effects caused by the poor therapeutic efficacy. The unique characteristics of site-specific delivery, prolonged circulation and controlled release of chemotherapeutic agents in drug-loaded controlled release carriers allow for an advanced platform for targeted cancer therapy with nanoparticles. There are several nanocarriers, such as liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, dendrimers, solid lipid nanoparticles, metallic nanoparticles, and mesoporous silica nanoparticles that showed great potential for improving the encapsulation efficiency of drugs and the controlled release properties. The chapter highlights the basic principles of drug loading technologies such as adsorption, entrapment and covalent conjugation methods for the formulation of nanoparticles. Additionally, the factors that influence the ability to load these drugs including particle size, surface charge, drug-polymer interactions and the physicochemical properties of the therapeutic agent are discussed. Besides, various types of controlled release systems such as diffusion controlled, pH controlled, enzyme controlled, thermally controlled, magnetically controlled and stimuli-controlled release systems are well discussed. A special focus on clinical translational and regulatory aspects of the recent advances of smart nanocarriers and multifunctional nanoparticles for personalized cancer therapy is provided. The use of controlled drug delivery systems in the treatment of breast, lung, colorectal and glioblastoma cancer is also discussed.
Author Affiliations
- 1 Lords University, Alwar Bhiwadi Road, Chikani, Rajasthan 301028, India.