Nanoformulations for combination or cascade anticancer therapy

Miao, L (Miao, Lei)^[ 1,2,3 ] ; Guo, ST (Guo, Shutao)^[ 1,2,4 ] ; Lin, CM (Lin, C. Michael)^[ 1,2 ] ; Liu, Q (Liu, Qi)^[ 1,2 ] ; Huang, L (Huang, Leaf)^[ 1,2 ]

ADVANCED DRUG DELIVERY REVIEWS, 2017, 115: 3-22

DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2017.06.003

 WOS:000411779200002

Abstract

Nanoparticle drug formulations have been extensively investigated, developed, and in some cases, approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Synergistic combinations of drugs having distinct tumor-inhibiting mechanisms and non-overlapping toxicity can circumvent the issue of treatment resistance and may be essential for effective anti-cancer therapy. At the same time, co-delivery of a combined regimen by a single nanocarrier presents a challenge due to differences in solubility, molecular weight, functional groups and encapsulation conditions between the two drugs. This review discusses cellular and microenvironment mechanisms behind treatment resistance and nanotechnology-based solutions for effective anti-cancer therapy. Co-loading or cascade delivery of multiple drugs using of polymeric nanoparticles, polymer-drug conjugates and lipid nanoparticles will be discussed along with lipid-coated drug nanoparticles developed by our lab and perspectives on combination therapy. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.