Polymeric Nanomedicines as a Promising Vehicle for Solid Tumor Therapy and Targeting

Abstract

Inspite of demanding research that has been undertaken for cancer treatment, cancer is a major cause of mortality. Available conventional treatment options of solid tumor are associated with serious side effects. Nanomedicines mediated fascinating approach may be effectively utilized for efficient tumor targeting by avoiding all the problems associated with conventional chemotherapy. Polymeric nanomedicines such as polymer micelles, polymeric nanoparticles, polymersomes and polymer conjugates currently developed for solid tumor treatment have proved to be efficacious cancer therapeutics. These polymeric nanostructures are able to reach tumor tissue or angiogenic endothelial cells either passively or actively. To date, more advancement in the tumor targeting field includes stimuli sensitive polymeric nanocarriers that pass through the intracellular delivery barriers and release the bioactives in response to the microenvironmental trigger of tumor cell. This review discusses the molecular aspects of solid tumor pathophysiology and its dramatic impact on research for innovative and novel therapeutic approaches linked with tumor-targeting polymeric nanomedicines.