PLGA-based drug delivery system for combined therapy of cancer: research progress

Abstract

In recent years, PLGA micro/nano particle drug delivery systems has been widely used in cancer treatment. According to the unique properties of PLGA, carriers of various structures are designed to keep the function of drugs or bioactive substances, ensure the effective load of molecules and improve the bioavailability of drugs in diseased parts. PLGA is one of the earliest and most commonly used biodegradable materials. It is often used for functional modification with other polymers (such as polyethylene glycol and chitosan) or other molecules (such as aptamers and ligands) to deliver various small molecule drugs (such as DOX and DTX) and bioactive macromolecules (such as proteins and nucleic acids) to improve targeting, controlled release and therapeutic properties. In this paper, the preparation methods, physical and chemical properties and medical applications of PLGA micro/nano particles are discussed. We focused on the recent research progress of the PLGA-based drug carrier system in tumor combination therapy.