title: Drug-loaded polyelectrolyte microcapsules for sustained targeting of cancer cells.
abstract: In this review we will overview novel nanotechnological nanocarrier systems for cancer therapy focusing on recent development in polyelectrolyte capsules for targeted delivery of antineoplastic drugs against cancer cells. Biodegradable polyelectrolyte microcapsules (PMCs) are supramolecular assemblies of particular interest for therapeutic purposes, as they can be enzymatically degraded into viable cells, under physiological conditions. Incorporation of small bioactive molecules into nano-to-microscale delivery systems may increase drug's bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy at single cell level giving desirable targeted therapy. Layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembled PMCs are efficient microcarriers that maximize drug's exposure enhancing antitumor activity of neoplastic drug in cancer cells. They can be envisaged as novel multifunctional carriers for resistant or relapsed patients or for reducing dose escalation in clinical settings.
authors.affiliation: Consiglio Nazionale delle Recerche-Instituto Nanoscienze, NNL Via Arnesano 16, Lecce, Italy.
authors.forename: Viviana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vergaro
authors.forename: Flavia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Scarlino
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bellomo
authors.forename: Rosaria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rinaldi
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vergara
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maffia
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Baldassarre
authors.forename: Gianluigi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giannelli
authors.forename: Xingcai
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yuri M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Lvov
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leporatti
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D002214:Capsules / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity; D004339:Drug Compounding / Q000379:methods; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor / Q000379:methods; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002214:Capsules; D004573:Electrolytes; D011108:Polymers