Stimuli-responsive self-assembled nanocarriers based on amphiphilic block copolymers for cancer therapy

Abstract

Cancer is one of the most common life-threatening illness and is currently among one of the leading causes of deaths worldwide. Therapeutically effective and biocompatible self-assembled nanocarriers based on amphiphilic block copolymers represent an innovative field and have an incredible potential for revolutionizing cancer therapeutics. The area of self-assembled nanocarriers has been recognized as one of the key subjects in nanoscience, particularly, in nanomedicine. Because of their potential ability to improve therapies, these nanostructures have been extensively used as delivery systems for drugs and/or imaging agents in order to improve the efficacy and safety of cancer treatments, by increasing therapeutic performance and reducing side effects of chemotherapeutic drugs. Several polymer-based materials have been investigated in the development of self-assembled nanocarriers; however, the emerging and cutting-edge research focuses involve the design and development of stimuli-responsive self-assemblies that response to local environment of tumor tissue, on the basis of internal or external stimuli. In this chapter, the main features regarding the most outstanding contributions in the arena of stimuli-responsive self-assembled nanostructures, mainly focusing in polymersomes, since they have been the subject of several recent researches. The recent advances in their biomedical applications in the treatment of cancer will be highlighted.