Advances of Stimuli-Responsive Amphiphilic Copolymer Micelles in Tumor Therapy

Abstract

Amphiphilic copolymers are composed of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic chains, which can self-assemble into polymeric micelles in aqueous solution via the hydrophilic/hydrophobic interactions. Due to their unique properties, polymeric micelles have been widely used as drug carriers. Poorly soluble drugs can be covalently attached to polymer chains or non-covalently incorporated in the micelles, with improved pharmacokinetic profiles and enhanced efficacy. In recent years, stimuli-responsive amphiphilic copolymer micelles have attracted significant attention. These micelles can respond to specific stimuli, including physical triggers (light, temperature, etc). chemical stimuli (pH, redox, etc). and physiological factors (enzymes, ATP, etc). Under these stimuli, the structures or properties of the micelles can change, enabling targeted therapy and controlled drug release in tumors. These stimuli-responsive strategies offer new avenues and approaches to enhance the tumor efficacy and reduce drug side effects. We will review the applications of different types of stimuli-responsive amphiphilic copolymer micelles in tumor therapy, aiming to provide valuable guidance for future research directions and clinical translation.