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Polymer nanoparticulate drug delivery and combination cancer therapy

    Pengxiao Cao

    Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA

    &
    Younsoo Bae

    * Author for correspondence

    Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA.

    Published Online:https://doi.org/10.2217/fon.12.139

    This review describes the scientific background, current achievement and future perspective of combination therapy using polymer nanoparticle drug carriers in cancer treatment. Nanotechnology-based drug delivery is expected to dramatically change combination cancer therapy by controlling accumulation and distribution patterns of multiple drugs selectively in disease sites. Rationally designed polymer materials can produce functional nanoparticulate drug carriers that can be used in various biomedical applications. In comparison with conventional drug combination approaches, using polymer nanoparticle drug carriers appears to suppress tumor growth more efficiently, potentially overcoming multidrug resistance in many cancers. It also provides versatile combination options for a variety of therapeutic agents, molecular targeting agents and nucleotide drugs.

    Papers of special note have been highlighted as: ▪ of interest ▪▪ of considerable interest

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