Microbiologically extracted poly(hydroxyalkanoates) and its amalgams as therapeutic nano-carriers in anti-tumor therapies.

Abstract

Requisite of contriving strategies for mitigating polymeric waste generated in Nature via synthetic polymers has conceded in development of biopolymers like poly(hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), poly(hydroxyvalerate) (PHV), poly(lactic acid) (PLA) etc. Amongst all these biopolymers, PHB and its assorted homologues have sought more attention from scientific researchers due to their non-toxic nature coupled with their intrinsic biodegradability as well as biocompatibility. Concurrently, they also demonstrate ease of production via microbial fermentation and closely analogous physical traits against their synthetic counterparts utilized in biomedical sector. Researchers have extensively exploited PHB and its amalgams for an array of biomedical functions extending from carriers for drug delivery to scaffolds in tissue engineering to resorbable medical devices like cardiovascular grafts and so on. Additionally, advancement of science and technology in recent times has realized in utilization of PHB and its various derivatives as chemoembolizing agents as well as carriers of encapsulated drugs in nanomedicine sector for cancer treatment functions. PHB and its derivative polymeric systems have been extensively explored and probed, however, no amalgamated information on their effective utilization in cancer treatment applications is available as such. Within this review, we consolidate and discuss current progress and strategies of PHB and its copious amalgams from available literature, while concurrently outlining their future potential for implementation in cancer treatment as nano-carriers for therapeutic agents.