Nano-chemotherapeutics: Maximising lymphatic drug exposure to improve the treatment of lymph-metastatic cancers

Nano-sized drug delivery systems incorporating chemotherapeutic drugs (nano-chemotherapeutics) have been widely employed for the treatment of solid tumours. The dimensions of nanoparticulate drug delivery systems also make them ideal vectors for improving drug exposure to the lymphatic system, potentially enhancing the treatment of lymph-resident metastases. This review examines the physical properties of nanoparticulate drug delivery systems that promote lymphatic exposure and lymph node retention, and discusses methods for improving lymphatic access. Drug delivery systems that have been investigated for the treatment of lymph node metastasis are also reviewed, and recent advances towards active targeting approaches for lymphatic metastases highlighted. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.