Cancer is a chronic disease that is responsible for the high death rate, globally. The administration of anticancer drugs is one crucial approach that is employed for the treatment of cancer, although its therapeutic status is not presently satisfactory. The anticancer drugs are limited pharmacologically, resulting from the serious side effects, which could be life-threatening. Polymer drug conjugates, nano-based drug delivery systems can be utilized to protect normal body tissues from the adverse side effects of anticancer drugs and also to overcome drug resistance. They transport therapeutic agents to the target cell/tissue.
Classes of Anticancer Drugs | Mode of Action | General Mechanisms of Resistance | Examples | ||||||||
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Topoisomerase inhibitors | They hinder the binding of the DNA substrate. They also form a cleavage complex, which prevents enzyme turnover and the build-up of high levels of the cytotoxic cleavage complex within the cell. | The altered proliferation and drug targets, reduced sensitivity to apoptosis and cell death, increased ability to repair DNA damage, expression of drug efflux pumps, and detoxification mechanisms. | 1–3 | ||||||||
Antimetabolites | They hinder the biosynthesis of nucleic acids. | 4–7 | |||||||||
Anti-tubulin agents | They disrupt mitotic spindles and terminate mitosis. | 8–11 | |||||||||
Alkylating agents | They bind covalently with the DNA and crosslink them, thereby disrupting the DNA. | 12–16 |
Polymer-Drug Conjugates | Carrier/ | Monomers Used | Drugs | Biological Outcomes | Molecular Design | Reference | |||||||||||
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Polymer-Drug Conjugates | Carrier/Monomers Used | Drugs | Biological Outcomes | Molecular Design | Reference | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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N-(2-hydroxypropyl methyl) acrylamide copolymer-gadolinium-paclitaxel-Cyanine5.5 | N-(2-hydroxypropyl methyl) acrylamide | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hyaluronic acid-dihydroartemisinin (HA-DHA) | Hyaluronic acid | Paclitaxel | Dihydroartemisinin | Mode of administration in vivo: Intravenous. | Prolonged residence time, high accumulation of the conjugate at the tumor site. Inhibition of proliferation and induced apoptosis of the 4T1 murine breast cancer cells. | The conjugates displayed high apoptosis when compared to the free drug | The amphiphilic block polymer was prepared via a two-step Reversible Addition-Fragmentation chain Transfer polymerization and self-assembled into a nanoparticle. Enzyme-sensitive tetrapeptide linker was used as a spacer in the conjugate to promote the degradation of high molecular weight conjugates into low molecular weights with the release of the drug in the cancer microenvironment. | The hydroxyl group of the drug was covalently linked to the carboxylic group of hyaluronic acid. | [111] | ||||||||||||||||||
[ | ] | Hyaluronic acid-Doxorubicin-Gemcitabine | Hyaluronic acid | Doxorubicin and gemcitabine | Mode of administration in vivo: Intravenous and subcutaneous. | The conjugates loaded with both drugs were active in inhibiting the formation of an orthotopic, aggressive 4T1 tumor model in vivo when compared to individual drugs and the polymer-conjugates loaded with a single drug. | The amine on gemcitabine was conjugated to the carboxylic acid on amino acids to form a prodrug. The prodrug was conjugated to hyaluronic acid via carbodiimide chemistry. Doxorubicin was conjugated to hyaluronic acid via carbodiimide chemistry. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Hyaluronic acid-Paclitaxel (HA-PLX) | Hyaluronic acid | [ | Paclitaxel | Significant cytotoxicity and apoptosis-inducing effect resulting from increased cellular uptake of the drug via HA-receptor mediated endocytosis. | Paclitaxel was conjugated to the C-6 position of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine of the hyaluronic acid using hexanediamine as a linker. | 112] | |||||||||||||||||||||
[ | ] | PEG-folic acid-trastuzumab | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
MPEG-b-norbornene functional PLA-b-P(α-BrCL) | Polyethylene glycol | Polylactic acid, Polyethylene glycolFolic acid and trastuzumab | The in vitro cellular uptake of the prodrugs conjugated with both drugs was high when compared to the non-targeted polymeric prodrugs. The conjugate displayed apoptosis of 80% with enhanced tumor regression in vivo. | The copolymer was prepared | by ring-opening polymerization of PEG and lactide followed by isomerization polymerization of the triblock copolymer and 2-hydroxyethyl disulfide using dibutyltin dilaurate as a catalyst. | Doxorubicin and paclitaxel | The incorporation of both drugs into the carrier resulted in a synergistic effect in inhibiting the proliferation of A549 cancer cells. | [113] | |||||||||||||||||||
Both drugs were covalently incorporated into the polymer backbone | [ | 133] |
N-(2-hydroxypropyl) methacrylamide -Doxorubicin | N-(2-hydroxypropyl) methacrylamide | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Polylactide-Paclitaxel (PLA-PTX) | Allyl-functionalized polylactide | Doxorubicin | Paclitaxel | Mode of administration in vivo: Intravenous. | The conjugate exhibited reduced glycolysis, increased apoptosis, and reduced degree of phospholipids when compared to the free doxorubicin. The in vivo studies on the 4T1 breast tumor mouse model using the conjugate revealed a high reduction in the growth of tumors when compared to free DOX-treated mice. | DOX was incorporated into the carriers, and enzyme-sensitive tetrapeptide linker was used as a spacer in the conjugate to promote the degradation of high molecular weight conjugates into low molecular weights with the release of the drug in the cancer microenvironment. | Enhanced cytotoxic effect in vitro. | [114] | |||||||||||||||||||
A polymer-drug conjugate was also obtained by thiol-ene reaction of both thiol-functionalized SB and PTX with allyl-functionalized PLA. | [ | 134] |
Poly-l-glutamic acid-Doxorubicin-Aminoglutethimide | Poly-l-glutamic acid | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Polyethylene glycol-Paclitaxel (PEG-PTX) | Polyethylene glycol | Doxorubicin and aminoglutethimide | Mode of administration in vivo: Intravenous. | The conjugates displayed enhanced tumor cell death and inhibited tumor-related activities. However, the conjugates containing [ N-ε-maleimidocaproic acid hydrazide] moiety displayed a higher survival rate and pro-apoptotic activity, lower anti-apoptotic signals, and inhibition of metastasis. | The conjugates loaded with Dox and aminoglutethimide were prepared with pH-sensitive linkers—hydrazine moiety or complex EMCH [N-ε-maleimidocaproic acid hydrazide] moiety—for the release of Dox in the tumor microenvironment. | [115] | |||||||||||||||||||||
Paclitaxel | The conjugates exhibited sustained drug release with anti-tumor activity, which was less than the free drugs. | The conjugates were prepared with either an azide linker or a succinic linker. The linear PEGs were modified with PTX at the hydroxyl. PTX was incorporated into the PEG molecule via an ester bond at the C-2′ position on the PTX side chain. |
[135] |
Polyethylene glycol -Doxorubicin (PEG-DOX) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide-Doxorubicin | Polyethylene glycol | Doxorubicin | Mode of administration in vivo: Intraductal. | Increased molecular weight and decreased branching prolonged the retention of the drug in the mammary gland after administration. | Dox was conjugated to PEG polymers with varied molecular weights (5, 10, 20, and 40 kDa) and architectures of linear, four-arm, and eight-arm. |
N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide | Doxorubicin | High cytotoxic activity against the lung cancer cells, which were 10-fold higher cytotoxic against B16-F10, 3LL, and HT29 cells when compared to peptide-doxorubicin. | Doxorubicin was incorporated into N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide. | [116] | |||||||||||||||||
[ | ] | Poly(l-glutamic acid)-g-methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (PLG-g-Mpeg-PTT | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Poly-l | Poly(l-glutamic acid)-g-methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) | -lysine-lipoic acid-Doxorubicin | Poly-l-lysine-lipoic acid | Podophyllotoxin | DoxorubicinThe conjugates decreased the hemolytic activity of the drug. The conjugates’ antitumor activity against MCF-7/ADR xenograft tumors was high, with a tumor suppression rate of 82.5%. | The conjugates exhibited enhanced internalization and cytotoxicity effects in vitro. It also exhibited excellent good tumor-targeting capability. | The drug was conjugated into poly(l-glutamic acid)-g-methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (PLG-g-mPEG) via ester bonds. | [ | It was prepared by the modification of dimethylmaleic anhydride for enhanced cell internalization | 117] | |||||||||||||||||
[ | ] | Polyamidoamine-Pamidronate-Platinum (PAMAM-PAM-Pt) | Polyamidoamine | Pamidronate and platinum | The conjugates were not toxic when compared to the free drugs. | The conjugates were synthesized by aqueous phase Michael-addition polymerization reaction. | [118] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Beta-cyclodextrin- Polyethylene glycol-Folic Acid-doxorubicin (β-CD-PEG-FA-DOX) | Polyethylene glycol, Beta-cyclodextrin | Doxorubicin | Mode of administration in vivo: Intravenous. | Reduced tumor volume, no systemic toxicity, and cardiotoxicity. | Beta-cyclodextrin (β-CD)-based carrier was composed of β-CD, polyethylene glycol, and folic acid for enhanced drug delivery. | [119] | |||||||||||||||||||||
Methoxy Polyethylene glycol-Polylactic acid-Doxorubicin (mPEG-b-PLA-g-DOX) | Polyethylene glycol, Polylactic acid | Doxorubicin | The cytotoxicity studies showed the cytocompatibility of polymeric carriers to MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines with the viability of cells greater than 80%. | The conjugates were prepared by ring-opening polymerization and condensation followed by click reaction. The carriers were grafted with a triazo group. Doxorubicin was modified with cyclooctyne and conjugated to the carriers by strain-promoted alkyne-azide cycloaddition click reaction. | [120] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
poly(oligoethylene glycol acrylate) | (POEG-VBC-DOX) | poly(oligoethylene glycol acrylate) | Doxorubicin | Mode of administration in vivo: Intravenous. | Synergistic anti-tumor and anti-metastasis activity in vitro and in vivo. | DOX was incorporated POEG-VBC backbone. | [121] | ||||||||||||||||||||
N-(1,3-dihydroxypropan-2-yl) methacrylamide-Doxorubicin | N-(1,3-dihydroxypropan-2-yl) methacrylamide | Doxorubicin | Extended blood circulation time with an elimination half time of 9.8 h. High accumulation in the tumors and improved in vivo therapeutic efficacy against 4T1 xenograft tumors compared to the free DOX. Tumor inhibition was via inhibition of cell proliferation and antiangiogenic effects. | The conjugates were synthesized by RAFT polymerization, followed by drug conjugation. | [122] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Polymalic acid-Trastuzumab | Polymalic acid | Trastuzumab | Mode of administration in vivo: Intravenous. | Enhanced tumor growth inhibition. | Polyethylene glycol (PEG) and poly (β-l-malic acid)-drug conjugates were prepared by covalently incorporating anti-HER2/neu peptide. | [123] | |||||||||||||||||||||
Polyamidoamine-Procaine-Platinum-Alendronate | Polyamidoamine | Procaine, Platinum (II), Alendronate | Selective inhibitory effects of the conjugates towards the cancer cell lines. | The conjugates were synthesized by aqueous phase Michael-addition polymerization reaction. | [124] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Polyamidoamine-Procaine-Pt-Alendronate | Polyamidoamine | Ferrocene, Pt (II) | Selective inhibitory effects of the conjugates towards the cancer cell lines. | The conjugates were synthesized by aqueous phase Michael-addition polymerization reaction. | [125] |