Polymeric Micelles in Cancer Immunotherapy

Abstract

Cancer immunotherapies have generated some miracles in the clinic by orchestrating our immune system to combat cancer cells. However, the safety and efficacy concerns of the systemic delivery of these immunostimulatory agents has limited their application. Nanomedicine-based delivery strategies (e.g., liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, silico, etc.) play an essential role in improving cancer immunotherapies, either by enhancing the anti-tumor immune response, or reducing their systemic adverse effects. The versatility of working with biocompatible polymers helps these polymeric nanoparticles stand out as a key carrier to improve bioavailability and achieve specific delivery at the site of action. This review provides a summary of the latest advancements in the use of polymeric micelles for cancer immunotherapy, including their application in delivering immunological checkpoint inhibitors, immunostimulatory molecules, engineered T cells, and cancer vaccines.

pH and lipase-responsive nanocarrier-mediated dual drug delivery system to treat periodontitis in diabetic rats

“…Nanoparticle (NP)-based drug delivery systems, mainly including liposomes [ [11] , [12] , [13] ], polymeric NPs [ 14 , 15 ], metallic NPs [ 16 , 17 ], and inorganic NPs [ 18 , 19 ], are considered as a promising and effective treatment strategy for bone regeneration [ 20 , 21 ]. It is well known that with the advantages of improving drug solubility, decreasing toxicity, increasing drug stability, and reducing drug decomposition, nano-drug delivery systems can utilize special microenvironmental changes to achieve controlled and programmed drug release, and play an important role in immune regulation, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities [ [22] , [23] , [24] , [25] ].…”

Micellar Hyaluronidase and Spiperone as a Potential Treatment for Pulmonary Fibrosis

“…To deliver a pharmacologically active molecule to the target and prevent its hydrolysis in an aggressive environment, the use of Pluronic has been suggested [ 14 , 16 ]. Similar structures are used for targeted therapy [ 14 , 16 , 19 , 20 , 21 ]. We have studied the conjugate of Pluronic L31 and hyaluronidase 1 as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.…”

“…The micelle can be composed of a combination of two pluronics or polyethylene glycol with pluronic [ 16 ]. Indeed, such structures are have been used for targeted therapy [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ]. We have previously studied the effects of conjugates of pluronics with a predominance of hydrophobic properties and amphiphilic properties with hyaluronidase [ 22 ].…”

Cancer nanomedicine in preoperative therapeutics: Nanotechnology-enabled neoadjuvant chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, and phototherapy

“…For example, liposomes can be loaded with different peptides, mRNAs and small molecule inhibitors to induce a stronger cellular immune response and retard tumor proliferation [ [105] , [106] , [107] , [108] , [109] ]. Polymer-based micelles (such as polylactic- co -glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticles) and hydrogels can also deliver anti-tumor agents, immune checkpoint inhibitors, cytokines or peptides to specific targets to enhance anti-tumor immunotherapy efficacy and inhibit tumor growth [ [110] , [111] , [112] ]. In some settings, silica, iron oxide and gold nanoparticles can induce tumor cell apoptosis by recruiting immune cells to activate direct tumor cell killing, initiating immune responses through dendritic cells, and adaptive immune responses through T cells [ [113] , [114] , [115] ].…”