Stimuli Responsive Nanoparticles for Controlled Anti-cancer Drug Release

Conventional drugs used for cancer chemotherapy have severe toxic side effects and show individually varied therapeutic responses. The convergence of nanotechnology, biology, material science and pharmacy offers a perspective strategy for cancer chemotherapy. Nanoparticles loaded with anti-cancer drug have been designed to overcome the limitations associated with conventional drugs, several nanomedicines have been approved by FDA and shown good performances in clinical practice. However, the therapeutic efficacies cannot be enhanced. Taking this into account, stimuli responsive nanoparticles present the ability to enhance therapeutic efficacy and reduce side effects. In this review, we systematically summarized the recent progresses of controlled anti-cancer drug release systems based on nanoparticles with different stimuli response including pH, temperature, light, redox and others. If the achievements of the past can be extrapolated into the future, it is highly likely that responsive nanoparticles with a wide array of desirable properties can be eventually developed for safe and efficient cancer therapy.