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Polymeric Micelles for Multi-Drug Delivery in Cancer

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Abstract

Drug combinations are common in cancer treatment and are rapidly evolving, moving beyond chemotherapy combinations to combinations of signal transduction inhibitors. For the delivery of drug combinations, i.e., multi-drug delivery, major considerations are synergy, dose regimen (concurrent versus sequential), pharmacokinetics, toxicity, and safety. In this contribution, we review recent research on polymeric micelles for multi-drug delivery in cancer. In concurrent drug delivery, polymeric micelles deliver multi-poorly water-soluble anticancer agents, satisfying strict requirements in solubility, stability, and safety. In sequential drug delivery, polymeric micelles participate in pretreatment strategies that “prime” solid tumors and enhance the penetration of secondarily administered anticancer agent or nanocarrier. The improved delivery of multiple poorly water-soluble anticancer agents by polymeric micelles via concurrent or sequential regimens offers novel and interesting strategies for drug combinations in cancer treatment.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This work was partially supported by Global Innovative Research Center program of the National Research Foundation of Korea and by the Intramural Research Program (Global RNAi Carrier Initiative) of Korean Institute of Science and Technology.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, St. Louis College of Pharmacy, 4588 Parkview Place, St. Louis, Missouri, 63110-1088, USA

    Hyunah Cho

  2. Pharmaceutical Sciences Division, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin, 777 Highland Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin, 53705-2222, USA

    Hyunah Cho, Tsz Chung Lai, Keishiro Tomoda & Glen S. Kwon

  3. Center for Theragnosis, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Hwarangno 14-gil 5, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 136-791, Republic of Korea

    Glen S. Kwon

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  1. Hyunah Cho
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  2. Tsz Chung Lai
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Correspondence to Hyunah Cho.

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Cho, H., Lai, T.C., Tomoda, K. et al. Polymeric Micelles for Multi-Drug Delivery in Cancer. AAPS PharmSciTech 16, 10–20 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1208/s12249-014-0251-3

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