Applications of phase change materials in smart drug delivery for cancer treatment

Abstract

Phase change materials (PCMs) are materials that are stimulated by the external enthalpy change (temperature) to realize solid-liquid and liquid-solid phase transformation. Due to temperature sensitivity, friendly modification, and low toxicity, PCMs have been widely used in smart drug delivery. More often than not, the drug was encapsulated in a solid PCMs matrix, a thermally responsive material. After the trigger implementation, PCMs change into a solid-liquid phase, and the loading drug is released accordingly. Therefore, PCMs can achieve precise release control with different temperature adjustments, which is especially important for small molecular drugs with severe side effects. The combination of drug therapy and hyperthermia through PCMs can achieve more accurate and effective treatment of tumor target areas. This study briefly summarizes the latest developments on PCMs as smart gate-keepers for anti-tumor applications in light of PCMs becoming a research hot spot in the nanomedicine sector in recent years.

Aptamer-Based Smart Targeting and Spatial Trigger–Response Drug-Delivery Systems for Anticancer Therapy

“…Photothermal agents could absorb the energy of NIR light and convert it to heat energy, generating localized heat at the site of light irradiation [174][175][176]. This localized heat can alter the structure or phase of the thermo-sensitive materials, resulting in the rapid release of cargo from thermo-sensitive material-based delivery carrier upon light irradiation [177][178][179][180][181].…”

Designing Dual-Responsive Drug Delivery Systems: The Role of Phase Change Materials and Metal–Organic Frameworks

“…As the temperature increases above the melting point of the PCMs, they transition from a solid state to a liquid state, and the drug molecules encapsulated in the PCMs are released into the surrounding medium. This simple physical process can be used in the development of a stimulative drug delivery system, allowing for precise control of drug release by adjusting the temperature [28,30,35]. PCMs with phase transitions occurring at slightly above 37 °C are usually chosen for use in temperature-responsive drug delivery systems.…”

Form‐stable phase change materials supported by nanostructured zinc polyacrylate weakening super cooling of polyethylene glycol

“…6,7 Due to their high latent heat storage capacity and isothermal characteristic during the time of phase transition, PCMs have been extensively studied by researchers and been employed for thermal energy storage for many decades. 8,9 In recent years, PCMs even began to be used in life science applications, for example, drug delivery, 10 controlled release 11 and biomedical applications. 12 PCMs can be divided into three categories, namely, organic and inorganic ones, and eutectics.…”