Nanoparticles (NPs) have distinct pharmacokinetic (PK) properties and can potentially improve the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination (ADME) of small-molecule drugs loaded therein. Owing to the unwanted toxicities of anticancer agents in healthy organs and tissues, their precise delivery to the tumor is an essential requirement. There have been numerous advancements in the development of nanomedicines for cancer therapy. Physiologically based PK (PBPK) models serve as excellent tools for describing and predicting the ADME properties and the efficacy and toxicity of drugs, in combination with pharmacodynamic (PD) models. The recent preliminary application of these modeling approaches to NPs demonstrated their potential benefits in research and development processes relevant to the ADME and pharmacodynamics of NPs and nanomedicines. Here, we comprehensively review the pharmacokinetics of NPs, the developed PBPK models for anticancer NPs, and the developed PD model for anticancer agents.
Keywords: ADME; Anticancer; Nanoparticles; PBPK model; PD model.