An overview on the interior and exterior stimuli-responsive biomaterials designed for cancer therapy

Abstract

Cancer is the prime cause of mortality worldwide. There are so many limitations in the use of conventional chemotherapeutic agents for cancer treatments. Due to the development of materials chemistry and the ability to deliver drugs in different directions, the concept of stimuli-responsive devices has gained widespread acceptance. These devices can be used in combination with other drugs to deliver a specific therapeutic agent. There is a greatly promising role of stimuli-responsive nanomaterials for cancer drug delivery in the future. This review aims to provide an overview of the various stimulioriented developments of prodrug-based nanomaterials for cancer treatment. Several types of bio-based materials are currently being developed that can respond to various external stimuli such as the thermal, light, and magnetic fields and internal stimuli such as enzymes, pH, redox potential, and hypoxia. These can also be used to deliver drugs to the targeted areas of cancer cells. They can additionally trigger the activation of multiple bioactive compounds and improve the efficiency of their drug delivery. In addition to being able to deliver drugs, these materials can help in the development of accurate diagnosis and treatment.