Chemotherapy Based on Supramolecular Chemistry: A Promising Strategy in Cancer Therapy

Abstract

Chemotherapeutic agents are considered one of the strategies in treating cancer. However, their use is faced by many challenges, such as poor water solubility leading to poor bioavailability and non-selective targeting of cancerous cells leading to diminished therapeutic actions and systemic adverse effects. Many approaches were adopted to overcome these drawbacks and to achieve the targeted delivery of the chemotherapeutic agents to the cancerous cells while minimizing adverse effects. Recently, supramolecular systems such as macrocycles have gained attention in the field of cancer therapy for being able to encapsulate different anticancer drugs via either host-guest complexation or self-assembly leading to a myriad of advantages. This review highlights the most recent studies concerned with the design of such novel systems for cancer therapy.

Palladium Nanoparticles Fabricated by Green Chemistry: Promising Chemotherapeutic, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Agents

“…It is worth mentioning that few recent studies reported on the use of supramolecules (macromolecules) such as calix[n]arenes and cyclodextrins as potential stabilizing agents for the biosynthesized Pd NPs [ 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 ]. They have been chosen as promising capping agents due to their biocompatible and eco-friendly nature [ 57 ]. Macromolecules could act as capping agents via surface attachment on the targeted Pd NPs through a combination of hydrophobic, charge transfer, hydrogen bonding, covalent bonding, or ion-dipole interactions ( Figure 1 ) [ 58 , 59 , 60 ].…”

Experimental and Computational Investigations of Carboplatin Supramolecular Complexes

“…Some previous studies reported the possible use of supramolecular host molecules as promising carriers for PBDs to enhance their water solubility, chemical stability, and bioavailability. 16 The host–guest complexation could also improve the selective delivery of chemotherapeutics to cancer cells, resulting in improved anticancer activities with minimal toxic systemic effects. 16 − 20 Host–guest complexation between PBDs and host supramolecular systems might reduce systemic side effects and resistance and improve the complex’s anticancer activity compared to the free drug.…”

“… 16 − 20 Host–guest complexation between PBDs and host supramolecular systems might reduce systemic side effects and resistance and improve the complex’s anticancer activity compared to the free drug. 16 − 20 For instance, the host–guest complexation between cisplatin and cucurbit[7]uril (CB7) stabilized through four hydrogen bonds reduced systemic adverse effects and overcame cancer cell resistance by modifying the pharmacokinetic profile of cisplatin in the blood circulation. 20 Another study reported reducing oxaliplatin’s toxic effects and enhancing its anticancer activity against leukemia cancer cells (L1210FR) upon its host–guest complexation with CB7 at significantly lower concentrations than the free drug.…”

pH-Sensitive Dendrimersomes of Hybrid Triazine-Carbosilane Dendritic Amphiphiles-Smart Vehicles for Drug Delivery

“…We suppose that the encapsulation of anti-cancer chemodrugs into dendrimersomes can prolongate their persistence in the organism as well as reduce side effects. Such a phenomenon has been reported while using supramolecular associates [ 37 ] and macromolecules, in particular, dendrimers [ 38 , 39 ], as carriers for chemodrugs. In respect of novel amphiphilic triazine-carbosilane dendrimersomes reported herein, this hypothesis deserves further validation in animal experiments.…”