Nanocargos designed with synthetic and natural polymers for ovarian cancer management

Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol. 2023 Dec;396(12):3407-3415. doi: 10.1007/s00210-023-02608-0. Epub 2023 Jul 8.

Abstract

Ovarian cancer cells usually spread in the peritoneal region, and if chemotherapeutic drugs can be given in these regions with proximity, then the anticancer property of the chemotherapeutic drugs can enhance. However, chemotherapeutic drug administrations are hindered by local toxicity. In the drug delivery system, microparticles or nanoparticles are administered in a controlled manner. Microparticles stay in a close vicinity while nanoparticles are smaller and can move evenly in the peritoneum. Intravenous administration of the drug evenly distributes the medicine in the target places and if the composition of the drug has nanoparticles it will have more specificity and will have easy access to the cancer cells and tumors. Among the different types of nanoparticles, polymeric nanoparticles were proven as most efficient in drug delivery. Polymeric nanoparticles are seen to be combined with many other molecules like metals, non-metals, lipids, and proteins, which helps in the increase of cellular uptake. The efficiency of different types of polymeric nanoparticles used in delivering the load for management of ovarian cancer will be discussed in this mini-review.

Keywords: Bionanotechnology; Nano-enabled drug delivery; Natural polymers; Ovarian cancer; Synthetic polymers.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents* / therapeutic use
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Nanoparticles*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Ovarian Neoplasms* / metabolism
  • Polymers / metabolism
  • Polymers / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Polymers