Polyphenols delivery by polymeric materials: challenges in cancer treatment
Orazio Vittorio,
Manuela Curcio,
Monica Cojoc,
Gerardo F. Goya,
Silke Hampel,
Francesca Iemma,
Anna Dubrovska,
Giuseppe Cirillo
Affiliations
Orazio Vittorio
UNSW Australia, Children’s Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Center and ARC Center of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, Australian Center for NanoMedicine
Manuela Curcio
University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende
Monica Cojoc
OncoRay-National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf
Gerardo F. Goya
Institute of Nanoscience of Aragon (INA) and Department of Condensed Matter Physics, University of Zaragoza
Silke Hampel
Leibniz Institute of Solid State and Material Research Dresden
Francesca Iemma
University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende
Anna Dubrovska
OncoRay-National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf
Nanotechnology can offer different solutions for enhancing the therapeutic efficiency of polyphenols, a class of natural products widely explored for a potential applicability for the treatment of different diseases including cancer. While possessing interesting anticancer properties, polyphenols suffer from low stability and unfavorable pharmacokinetics, and thus suitable carriers are required when planning a therapeutic protocol. In the present review, an overview of the different strategies based on polymeric materials is presented, with the aim to highlight the strengths and the weaknesses of each approach and offer a platform of ideas for researchers working in the field.
