Research Progress of SN38 Drug Delivery System in Cancer Treatment

Abstract

The active metabolite of irinotecan (CPT-11), 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (SN38), is 100–1000 times more active than CPT-11 and has shown inhibitory effects on a range of cancer cells, including those from the rectal, small cell lung, breast, esophageal, uterine, and ovarian malignancies. Despite SN38’s potent anticancer properties, its hydrophobicity and pH instability have caused substantial side effects and anticancer activity loss, which make it difficult to use in clinical settings. To solve the above problems, the construction of SN38-based drug delivery systems is one of the most feasible methods to improve drug solubility, enhance drug stability, increase drug targeting ability, improve drug bioavailability, enhance therapeutic efficacy and reduce adverse drug reactions. Therefore, based on the targeting mechanism of drug delivery systems, this paper reviews SN38 drug delivery systems, including polymeric micelles, liposomal nanoparticles, polymeric nanoparticles, protein nanoparticles, conjugated drug delivery systems targeted by aptamers and ligands, antibody-drug couplings, magnetic targeting, photosensitive targeting, redox-sensitive and multi-stimulus-responsive drug delivery systems, and co-loaded drug delivery systems. The focus of this review is on nanocarrier-based SN38 drug delivery systems. We hope to provide a reference for the clinical translation and application of novel SN38 medications.

Keywords:

• SN38
• drug delivery system
• cancer

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest in this work.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant No. 82204935), Natural Science Basic Research Program Project of Shaanxi Province (grant No. 2022JQ-917, 2022JQ-932), Scientific Research Project of Xi’an Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (grant No. SZY202103), Scientific Research Project of Xi’an Municipal Health Commission (grant No. 2022yb01), and Open Project of Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Fundamentals and New Drugs Research (grant No. KF2201).