Abstract
Thermo-sensitive vesicles are a promising tool for triggering the release of drugs to solid tumours when used in combination with mild hyperthermia. Responsivity to temperature makes them intelligent nanodevices able to provide a site-specific chemotherapy. Following a brief introduction concerning hyperthermia and its advantageous combination with vesicular systems, recent investigations on thermo-sensitive vesicles useful for controlled drug delivery in cancer treatment are reported in this review. In particular, the influence of bilayer composition on the in vitro and in vivo behaviour of thermo-sensitive formulations currently under investigation have been extensively explored.
Highlights
Introduction to Novel Approaches for ChemotherapyThe treatment of cancer with antineoplastic drugs is known as chemotherapy [1]
The authors have demonstrated that elastin-like polypeptide (ELP)-liposomes can release more than 95% of drug content in 10 s at 42 ◦C, while less than 20% is released within 30 min at 37 ◦C in serum
In the field of temperature-sensitive drug delivery systems, thermo-sensitive vesicles in combination with local hyperthermia represent a powerful tool for tumour specific drug delivery
Summary
The treatment of cancer with antineoplastic drugs is known as chemotherapy [1]. Generally, chemotherapeutics are administered intravenously and, due to their systemic distribution, the therapeutic effect at the tumour site is achieved only after high dose administration, often causing resistance and severe adverse effects [2,3]. Vesicles were only designed to provide site-specific treatment, while the second-generation of such systems possesses the ability to trigger drug release, assuring higher control of the therapy. The rapidly growing tumours have a leaky vasculature and, are permeable to liposomes, enabling their accumulation within tumours This mechanism is known as the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. When the tumour tissue is heated at about 40 ◦C, the thermosensitive carriers rapidly change their structure and the selectively destabilized liposomal membrane releases the drug directly into the tumour and the surrounding vasculature [6]. Recent investigations on thermo-sensitive vesicles useful for controlled drug delivery in cancer treatment, focusing on the influence of bilayer composition on the in vitro and in vivo behaviour of thermo-sensitive formulations, are reported here
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