Multistage vector (MSV) therapeutics

Joy Wolfram, Haifa Shen, Mauro Ferrari

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

46 Scopus citations

Abstract

One of the greatest challenges in the field of medicine is obtaining controlled distribution of systemically administered therapeutic agents within the body. Indeed, biological barriers such as physical compartmentalization, pressure gradients, and excretion pathways adversely affect localized delivery of drugs to pathological tissue. The diverse nature of these barriers requires the use of multifunctional drug delivery vehicles that can overcome a wide range of sequential obstacles. In this review, we explore the role of multifunctionality in nanomedicine by primarily focusing on multistage vectors (MSVs). The MSV is an example of a promising therapeutic platform that incorporates several components, including a microparticle, nanoparticles, and small molecules. In particular, these components are activated in a sequential manner in order to successively address transport barriers.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)406-415
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Controlled Release
Volume219
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 10 2015

Keywords

  • Biological barriers
  • Cancer therapy
  • Geometrical targeting
  • Porous silicon
  • Transport oncophysics

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pharmaceutical Science

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