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Theranostics 2018; 8(4):1059-1074. doi:10.7150/thno.22679 This issue Cite

Review

Stimuli-Responsive Nanomedicines for Overcoming Cancer Multidrug Resistance

Lei Zhou^1,2, Hao Wang², Yaping Li^1✉

1. State Key Laboratory of Drug Research & Center of Pharmaceutics, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China;
2. China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai 201203, China.

✉ Corresponding author: State Key Laboratory of Drug Research & Center of Pharmaceutics, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, CAS, 501 Haike Road, Shanghai 201203, China Email: ypliac.cn Tel/Fax: +86-21-2023-1979

Abstract

Chemotherapy is still a main option for cancer therapy, but its efficacy is often unsatisfying due to multidrug resistance (MDR). The tumor microenvironment is considered a dominant factor causing MDR. Stimuli-responsive nanomedicines exhibit many superiorities for reversal of MDR. As smart systems, stimuli-responsive nanomedicines are desirable for achieving site-specific accumulation and triggered drug release in response to slight changes in physicochemical properties in pathological conditions or to exogenous stimuli. In this review, we highlight the current progress of various nanomedicines with different stimuli-responsive capabilities for overcoming MDR. The materials, design, construction as well as efficacy in overcoming MDR of these nanomedicines are discussed. Eventually, we look forward to forthcoming intelligent nanoparticle systems with new mechanisms to deliver drugs for practical applications in conquering cancer MDR.

Keywords: multidrug resistance, cancer, tumor microenvironment, stimuli-responsive, nanomedicines, chemotherapy

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