What is it about?
Doxorubicin is a widely used antineoplastic drug, which is used in different types of cancer such as hepatocellular carcinoma. But its usage due to some physiochemical and biological properties is restricted. For example solubility of this hydrophobic drug cause low bioavailability and on the other hand its non-specific action can cause several side effects especially cardiotoxicity. So using a delivery system, which is capable to deliver the drug specifically to the site of action is needed. Polymeric Micelles are one of these delivery systems, whose amphiphilic properties help us to load a hydrophobic drug in it and deliver it through a aqueous medium such as blood.
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Why is it important?
The synthesized co-polymer here is important. We have synthesized a chitosan grafted PMVEMA, which itself has no toxic effect and on the other hand is water soluble compared to chitosan which is dissolved in acidic moiety. This co-polymer is grafted with a ligand, which is readily adsorbed on the surface of cancerous Hepatocytes and in this manner our drug enters effectively into the cancer cells.
Perspectives
This novel synthesized co-polymer can be used as a good alternative for polymers such as PEI, which is toxic. Also this delivery system drive a benefit from targeting agent, which can lead to lower side effects during treatment.
Ehsan Khabazian
Tehran University of Medical Sciences
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This page is a summary of: Synthesis of biotin targeted chitosan/ poly (methyl vinyl ether-alt-maleic acid) copolymeric micelles for delivery of doxorubicin , IET Nanobiotechnology, June 2017, the Institution of Engineering and Technology (the IET),
DOI: 10.1049/iet-nbt.2016.0229.
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