In the first section of this paper, the existing and emerging nanotechnology-based cancer therapies--nanoparticles, drug conjugates, nanomicelles--are reviewed. In a second part, we present our original and unpublished findings on the sustained release of anti-cancer drugs such as paclitaxel, doxorubicin and camptothecin using block copolymer micelles [PEG-b-poly(dioxanone-co-methyl dioxanone)]. Copolymers with variable lengths of hydrophobic and hydrophilic blocks have been synthesized and successfully loaded with paclitaxel, doxorubicin and camptothecin anti-cancer drugs, with micelles size in the range 130-300 nm. Drug encapsulation efficiencies varied between 15% and 70% depending on drug and copolymer composition. The drug binding constants, which give a good insight into drug encapsulation and release, were evaluated from UV spectroscopy as we reported previously for anti-TB drugs. Through variation of the methyl dioxanone content of the copolymer, our systems can be tailored for sustained release of the different drugs.
Keywords: Anti-cancer; Camptothecin; Doxorubicin; Paclitaxel; Polymeric micelles; Sustained delivery.
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