Factors affecting toxicity and efficacy of polymeric nanomedicines

• Published in: Toxicology and applied pharmacology Vol. 229; no. 1; pp. 121 - 134
• Main Author: Igarashi, Eiki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Diego, CA Elsevier Inc 15.05.2008; Elsevier
• Subjects: 60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents - administration & dosage; Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacokinetics; Biological and medical sciences; BLOOD; CAPILLARIES; Capillary Permeability; Drug Delivery Systems; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; DRUGS; ENDOTHELIUM; Humans; IN VIVO; Macromolecular substances; Medical sciences; Nanoparticles - administration & dosage; Nanoparticles - adverse effects; NANOSTRUCTURES; NEOPLASMS; Neoplasms - drug therapy; PARTICLE SIZE; PERMEABILITY; Pharmaceutical Preparations - administration & dosage; Polymers - chemistry; SPLEEN; Tissue Distribution; TOXICITY; Toxicology; TUMOR CELLS; Capillary permeability; Macromolecular substances; Drug delivery systems; Particle size; Drug; Delivery system; Macromolecule; Toxicity; Treatment efficiency; Permeability
• ISSN: 0041-008X; 1096-0333
• DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2008.02.007

Nanomedicine is the application of nanotechnology to medicine. The purpose of this article is to review common characteristics of polymeric nanomedicines with respect to passive targeting. We consider several biodegradable polymeric nanomedicines that are between 1 and 100 nm in size, and discuss the impact of this technology on efficacy, pharmacokinetics, toxicity and targeting. The degree of toxicity of polymeric nanomedicines is strongly influenced by the biological conditions of the local environment, which influence the rate of degradation or release of polymeric nanomedicines. The dissemination of polymeric nanomedicines in vivo depends on the capillary network, which can provide differential access to normal and tumor cells. The accumulation of nanomedicines in the microlymphatics depends upon retention time in the blood and extracellular compartments, as well as the type of capillary endothelium surrounding specific tissues. Finally, the toxicity or efficacy of intact nanomedicines is also dependent upon tissue type, i.e., non-endocrine or endocrine tissue, spleen, or lymphatics, as well as tumor type.