Nanosized Camptothecin Conjugates for Single and Combined Drug Delivery

Abstract

Camptothecin (CPT), a natural DNA topoisomerase 1 inhibitor, is commonly used as a model hydrophobic compound for anticancer drug delivery research. Nanoparticle loaded with active drugs has the potential to selectively deliver the therapeutic agents into tumor cells without affecting the normal tissues, and hence is attracting tremendous attention from biomedical scientists. Nanoparticles can benefit from the enhanced permeability and retention effect (EPR) of the tumor tissues that allows nanoparticles to be transported through the leaky blood vessels and retained for a longer time compared with traditional small molecule drugs. In particular, covalent camptothecin conjugates are of extensive interest due to their robust stability by covalent chemical bonding. In this mini-review, recent progress of nanosized camptothecin conjugates will be discussed with the focus on the difference of delivery materials as well as their potential of combined drug delivery for the therapy of cancer.