title: Micelle-like nanoassemblies based on polymer-drug conjugates as an emerging platform for drug delivery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  During the past decades, polymer-drug conjugates are one of the hottest topics in novel drug development fields. Amphiphilic polymer-drug conjugates in aqueous solution could form micelles or micelle-like nanoassemblies. Compared with polymer-drug conjugates and the micelles into which drugs are physically entrapped, micelles or micelle-like nanoassemblies based on polymer-drug conjugates bring several additional advantages, including increased drug-loading capacity, enhanced intracellular uptake, reduced systemic toxicity, and improved therapeutic efficacy.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review focuses on recent progress achieved in the research field of micelles or micelle-like nanoassemblies based on polymer-drug conjugates. Firstly, properties of polymers, drugs, and linkers which could be used to build polymer-drug conjugate micelles or micelle-like nanoassemblies are summarized. Then, the characterization methods are described. Finally, the drug-targeting mechanisms are discussed. Micelles or micelle-like nanoassemblies based on polymer-drug conjugates as an emerging platform have the potential to achieve medical treatments with enhanced therapeutic effect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The application of micelles or micelle-like nanoassemblies based on polymer-drug conjugates may give new life to old active compounds abandoned due to their low solubility problems. For clinical application, there is a need to further optimize the properties of the polymer, drug, and linker.
authors.affiliation: Shandong University, School of Pharmaceutical Science, Department of Pharmaceutics, Ji'nan, PR China.
authors.forename: Zhihong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yutao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D008823:Micelles; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012995:Solubility
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D008823:Micelles; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D011108:Polymers