Biomedical applications of PLGA nanoparticles in nanomedicine: advances in drug delivery systems and cancer therapy

ABSTRACT

Introduction

During the last decades, the ever-increasing proportion of patients with cancer has been led to serious concerns worldwide. Therefore, the development and use of novel pharmaceuticals, like nanoparticles (NPs)-based drug delivery systems (DDSs), can be potentially effective in cancer therapy.

Area covered

Poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) NPs, as a kind of bioavailable, biocompatible, and biodegradable polymers, have approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for some biomedical and pharmaceutical applications. PLGA is comprised of lactic acid (LA) and glycolic acid (GA) and their ratio could be controlled during various syntheses and preparation approaches. LA/GA ratio determines the stability and degradation time of PLGA; lower content of GA results in fast degradation. There are several approaches for preparing PLGA NPs that can affect their various aspects, such as size, solubility, stability, drug loading, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics, and so on.

Expert opinion

These NPs have indicated the controlled and sustained drug release in the cancer site and can use in passive and active (via surface modification) DDSs. This review aims to provide an overview of PLGA NPs, their preparation approach and physicochemical aspects, drug release mechanism and the cellular fate, DDSs for efficient cancer therapy, and status in the pharmaceutical industry and nanomedicine.

Graphical Abstract

KEYWORDS:

• PLGA
• Preparation of PLGA
• Drug release
• Nanomedicines
• Drug delivery systems
• Cancer therapy

Article highlights

• PLGA nanoparticles (NPs), can be prepared with various approaches.

• Various physicochemical properties of PLGA NPs have made them potential candidates against cancer.

• Three major mechanisms for drug release of PLGA NPs, including diffusion, erosion, and swelling, play crucial roles in drug release.

• Combination of PLGA NPs with other nanomaterials can improve their pharmaceutical features.

• PLGA NPs, have various cellular fates and functions after drug delivery to cancer cells.

• PLGA NPs can be involved in passive and active drug delivery systems against cancer cells.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.