International Journal of Nanomedicine (Mar 2019)
Traditional Chinese medicine-combination therapies utilizing nanotechnology-based targeted delivery systems: a new strategy for antitumor treatment
Abstract
Zhe Ma,1,2 Yuqi Fan,2,3 Yumei Wu,1,2 Dereje Kebebe,1,2,4 Bing Zhang,1,2 Peng Lu,1,2 Jiaxin Pi,1,2 Zhidong Liu1,2 1Engineering Research Center of Modern Chinese Medicine Discovery and Preparation Technique, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300193, China; 2Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300193, China; 3School of Integrative Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300193, China; 4School of Pharmacy, Institute of Health Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia Abstract: Cancer is a major public health problem, and is now the world’s leading cause of death. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)-combination therapy is a new treatment approach and a vital therapeutic strategy for cancer, as it exhibits promising antitumor potential. Nanotargeted drug-delivery systems have remarkable advantages and allow the development of TCM-combination therapies by systematically controlling drug release and delivering drugs to solid tumors. In this review, the anticancer activity of TCM compounds is introduced. The combined use of TCM for antitumor treatment is analyzed and summarized. These combination therapies, using a single nanocarrier system, namely codelivery, are analyzed, issues that require attention are determined, and future perspectives are identified. We carried out a systematic review of >280 studies published in PubMed since 1985 (no patents involved), in order to provide a few basic considerations in terms of the design principles and management of targeted nanotechnology-based TCM-combination therapies. Keywords: cancer, codelivery, combination therapy, nanotargeted drug-delivery system, tumor targeting, TCM
