Chapter 8 - Nanoparticles as drug delivery systems of combination therapy for cancer

Abstract

Therapy is complex since several drugs need to be with coordinated with different routes, while considered their side effects and mechanisms of resistance. A combination of various undesirable factors, including biological surroundings, poor solubility, and instability of many potential drugs within biological systems and systemic toxicity of drugs have necessitated nanoparticles to optimize drug delivery. Although, in theory, combined therapy could provide a promising strategy over single-agent therapy, appreciable therapeutic efficiency is not generally found, whereas multidrug toxicity is frequently found in clinical situations. Nanoparticles for drug combinations can elicit synergisms among them, enhance the physical stability, and decrease the side effects of drugs as they can achieve unification of the pharmacokinetics and cellular uptake of various drug molecules. These carriers can improve their selective accumulation for the tumor by passive and/or active targeting mechanisms. In general, combination therapy with nanosized drug delivery systems will hopefully result in increased patient compliance and better outcomes.