Pluronic® triblock copolymer-based nanoformulations for cancer therapy: A 10-year overview

Karine Cappuccio de Castro; Julia Cedran Coco; Érica Mendes Dos Santos; Janaína Artem Ataide; Renata Miliani Martinez; Mônica Helena Monteiro do Nascimento; João Prata; Pedro Ricardo Martins Lopes da Fonte; Patrícia Severino; Priscila Gava Mazzola; André Rolim Baby; Eliana Barbosa Souto; Daniele Ribeiro de Araujo; André Moreni Lopes

doi:10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.12.017

Pluronic® triblock copolymer-based nanoformulations for cancer therapy: A 10-year overview

J Control Release. 2023 Jan:353:802-822. doi: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.12.017. Epub 2022 Dec 17.

Authors

Karine Cappuccio de Castro¹, Julia Cedran Coco², Érica Mendes Dos Santos², Janaína Artem Ataide², Renata Miliani Martinez³, Mônica Helena Monteiro do Nascimento⁴, João Prata⁵, Pedro Ricardo Martins Lopes da Fonte⁶, Patrícia Severino⁷, Priscila Gava Mazzola², André Rolim Baby³, Eliana Barbosa Souto⁸, Daniele Ribeiro de Araujo⁴, André Moreni Lopes⁹

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Chemical Engineering, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil.
² Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil.
³ Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brazil.
⁴ Center of Natural and Human Sciences, Federal University of ABC, Santo André, Brazil.
⁵ Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences (iBB), Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; Associate Laboratory i4HB-Institute for Health and Bioeconomy at Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal.
⁶ Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences (iBB), Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; Associate Laboratory i4HB-Institute for Health and Bioeconomy at Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal; Center for Marine Sciences (CCMAR), University of Algarve, Gambelas Campus, Portugal; Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Algarve, Gambelas Campus, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal.
⁷ Nanomedicine and Nanotechnology Laboratory (LNMed), Institute of Technology and Research (ITP) and Tiradentes University, Aracaju, Brazil.
⁸ Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; REQUIMTE/UCIBIO, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
⁹ Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 36521691
DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.12.017

Abstract

This paper provides a review of the literature on the use of Pluronic® triblock copolymers for drug encapsulation over the last 10 years. A special focus is given to the progress of drug delivery systems (e.g., micelles, liposomes, micro/nanoemulsions, hydrogels and nanogels, and polymersomes and niosomes); the beneficial aspects of Pluronic® triblock copolymers as biological response modifiers and as pharmaceutical additives, adjuvants, and stabilizers, are also discussed. The advantages and limitations encountered in developing site-specific targeting approaches based on Pluronic-based nanostructures in cancer treatment are highlighted, in addition to innovative examples for improving tumor cytotoxicity while reducing side effects.

Keywords: Amphiphilic copolymers; Cancer therapy; Drug delivery systems (DDS); Nanostructures (NSs); Pluronic®; Self-assembly.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Drug Delivery Systems
Humans
Micelles
Neoplasms* / drug therapy
Poloxamer* / chemistry
Polymers / chemistry

Substances

Poloxamer
Polymers
Micelles