title: Nano-chemotherapeutics: maximising lymphatic drug exposure to improve the treatment of lymph-metastatic cancers.
abstract: Nano-sized drug delivery systems incorporating chemotherapeutic drugs ("nano-chemotherapeutics") have been widely employed for the treatment of solid tumours. The dimensions of nanoparticulate drug delivery systems also make them ideal vectors for improving drug exposure to the lymphatic system, potentially enhancing the treatment of lymph-resident metastases. This review examines the physical properties of nanoparticulate drug delivery systems that promote lymphatic exposure and lymph node retention, and discusses methods for improving lymphatic access. Drug delivery systems that have been investigated for the treatment of lymph node metastasis are also reviewed, and recent advances towards active targeting approaches for lymphatic metastases highlighted.
authors.affiliation: Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Pde, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia.
authors.forename: Gemma M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.affiliation: Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Pde, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia.
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Kaminskas
authors.affiliation: Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Pde, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia. Electronic address: chris.porter@monash.edu.
authors.forename: Christopher J H
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Porter
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers
keywords: Chemotherapeutic; Drug delivery systems; Lymph node; Lymphatic; Metastasis