Open AccessStimuli-Responsive Amphiphilic Pillar[n]arene Nanovesicles for Targeted Delivery of Cancer Drugs
Author(s) -
Sherif Ashraf Fahmy,
Asmaa Ramzy,
Basma Saleh,
Hassan M. E. Azzazy
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
acs omega
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.779
H-Index - 40
ISSN - 2470-1343
DOI - 10.1021/acsomega.1c04297
Subject(s) - nanocarriers , pillar , cucurbituril , supramolecular chemistry , amphiphile , biocompatibility , nanotechnology , drug delivery , chemistry , combinatorial chemistry , drug , cancer therapy , dendrimer , materials science , molecule , cancer , pharmacology , organic chemistry , copolymer , medicine , polymer , structural engineering , engineering
Cancer chemotherapeutics face several challenges, including uncontrollable drug release, off-target toxic effects, and poor bioavailability. Recently, supramolecular nanovesicles, such as calix[ n ]arenes (CXs), cyclodextrins (CDs), cucurbiturils (CBs), and pillar[ n ]arenes (PRs), have attracted attention as potential smart nanocarriers for chemotherapeutics because of their exceptional cavities that can achieve high encapsulation capacity and accommodate both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs. In addition, they can be functionalized with different stimuli-responsive groups, which facilitate controlled drug release. Supramolecular nanovesicles, loaded with drugs and decorated with stimuli-responsive targeting moieties, are designed by either host-guest complexation or self-assembly of amphiphilic cavitands. Pillar[ n ]arenes, in particular, are novel supramolecular host molecules that have recently been employed in cancer targeted drug delivery because of their symmetric pillar-shaped structure, simplicity of functionalization, and biocompatibility. This review summarizes state-of-the-art strategies for developing single or multiple stimuli-responsive pillar[ n ]arene nanovesicles for effective cancer treatment.