Skin cancer biology and barriers to treatment: Recent applications of polymeric micro/nanostructures

Abstract

Background: Skin cancer has been the leading type of cancer worldwide. Melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers are now the most common types of skin cancer that have been reached to epidemic proportion. Based on the rapid prevalence of skin cancers, and lack of efficient drug delivery systems, it is essential to surge the possible ways to prevent or cure the disease.

Aim of review: Although surgical modalities and therapies have been made great progress in recent years, however, there is still an urgent need to alleviate its increased burden. Hence, understanding the precise pathophysiological signaling mechanisms and all other factors of such skin insults will be beneficial for the development of more efficient therapies.

Key scientific concepts of review: In this review, we explained new understandings about onset and development of skin cancer and described its management via polymeric micro/nano carriers-based therapies, highlighting the current key bottlenecks and future prospective in this field. In therapeutic drug/gene delivery approaches, polymeric carriers-based system is the most promising strategy. This review discusses that how polymers have successfully been exploited for development of micro/nanosized systems for efficient delivery of anticancer genes and drugs overcoming all the barriers and limitations associated with available conventional therapies. In addition to drug/gene delivery, intelligent polymeric nanocarriers platforms have also been established for combination anticancer therapies including photodynamic and photothermal, and for theranostic applications. This portfolio of latest approaches could promote the blooming growth of research and their clinical availability.

Keywords: 5-ALA, 5-aminolevulinic acid; 5-FU, 5-fluorouracil; AIDS, Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; BCC, Basal cell carcinoma; BCCs, Basal cell carcinomas; Basal cell carcinoma; CREB, response element-binding protein; DDS, Drug delivery system; DIM-D, Di indolyl methane derivative; Drug delivery; GNR-PEG-MN, PEGylated gold nanorod microneedle; Gd, Gadolinium; Gene delivery; HH, Hedgehog; HPMC, Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose; IPM, Isopropyl myristate; MCIR, Melanocortin-1 receptor; MNPs, Magnetic nanoparticle; MNs, Microneedles; MRI, Magnetic Resonance Imaging; MSC, Melanoma skin cancer; Microneedles; Mn, Manganese; NMSC, Non melanoma skin cancer; NPs, Nano Particles; OTR, Organ transplant recipients; PAMAM, Poly-amidoamines; PAN, Polyacrylonitrile; PATCH1, Patch; PCL, Poly (ε-caprolactone); PDT, Photodynamic therapy; PEG, Polyethylene glycol; PLA, Poly lactic acid; PLA-HPG, Poly (d-l-lactic acid)-hyperbranched polyglycerol; PLGA, Poly (lactide-co-glycolide) copolymers; PLL, Poly (L-lysine); Polymeric nanocarriers; QDs, Quantum dots; SC, Skin cancer; SCC, Squamous cell Carcinoma; SMO, Smoothen; SPIO, Superparamagnetic iron oxide; Squamous cell carcinoma; UV, Ultra Violet; cAMP, Cyclic adenosine monophosphate; dPG, Dendritic polyglycerol; hTERT, Human telomerase reverse transcriptase.