title: Stimulus-responsive macromolecules and nanoparticles for cancer drug delivery.
abstract: Nanoparticles and macromolecular carriers have been widely used to increase the efficacy of chemotherapeutics, largely through passive accumulation provided by the enhanced permeability and retention effect. Stimulus-responsive peptide and polymer vehicles can further enhance the efficacy of antitumor therapeutics compared with the administration of free drug by three mechanisms: increasing the overall accumulation within solid tumors; providing a homogeneous spatial distribution in tumor tissues; and increasing the intracellular localization of anticancer therapeutics. This article highlights recent developments in 'smart' - stimulus-responsive - peptide, polymer and lipid drug carriers designed to enhance the localization and efficacy of therapeutic payloads as compared with free drug.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, PO Box 90281, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: MacEwan
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Callahan
authors.forename: Ashutosh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chilkoti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D010455:Peptides; D011108:Polymers