Abstract

The safe and effective delivery of anticancer agents to diseased tissues is one of the significant challenges in cancer therapy. Conventional anticancer agents are generally cytotoxins with poor pharmacokinetics and bioavailability. Nanocarriers are nanosized particles designed for the selectivity of anticancer drugs and gene transport to tumors. They are small enough to extravasate into solid tumors, where they slowly release their therapeutic load by passive leakage or biodegradation. Using smart nanocarriers, the rate of release of the entrapped therapeutic(s) can be increased, and greater exposure of the tumor cells to the therapeutics can be achieved when the nanocarriers are exposed to certain internally (enzymes, pH, and temperature) or externally (light, magnetic field, and ultrasound) applied stimuli that trigger the release of their load in a safe and controlled manner, spatially and temporally. This review gives a comprehensive overview of recent research findings on the different types of stimuli-responsive nanocarriers and their application in cancer treatment with a particular focus on ultrasound.

Full Text
Paper version not known

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.