Polymeric micelles as a new drug carrier system and their required considerations for clinical trials.
BACKGROUND
A polymeric micelle is a macromolecular assembly composed of an inner core and an outer shell, and most typically is formed from block copolymers. In the last two decades, polymeric micelles have been actively studied as a new type of drug carrier system, in particular for drug targeting of anticancer drugs to solid tumors.


METHODS
In this review, polymeric micelle drug carrier systems are discussed with a focus on toxicities of the polymeric micelle carrier systems and on pharmacological activities of the block copolymers. In the first section, the importance of the above-mentioned evaluation of these properties is explained, as this importance does not seem to be well recognized compared with the importance of targeting and enhanced pharmacological activity of drugs, particularly in the basic studies. Then, designs, types and classifications of the polymeric micelle system are briefly summarized and explained, followed by a detailed discussion regarding several examples of polymeric micelle carrier systems.


RESULTS
Readers will gain a strategy of drug delivery with polymeric carriers as well as recent progress of the polymeric micelle carrier systems in their basic studies and clinical trials.


CONCLUSIONS
The purpose of this review is to achieve tight connections between the basic studies and clinical trials.
Yokoyama
Masayuki
M
Jikei University School of Medicine, Research Center for Medical Science, Medical Engineering Laboratory, 3-25-8, Nishi-shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8461, Japan. masajun2093ryo@jikei.ac.jp
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000145:classification / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D004339:Drug Compounding / Q000379:methods; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D004341:Drug Evaluation / Q000379:methods; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D006801:Humans; D008823:Micelles; D011108:Polymers / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D008823:Micelles; D011108:Polymers