Title:Improving the Efficacy of Anticancer Drugs via Encapsulation and Acoustic Release
Volume: 18
Issue: 10
Author(s): Salma E. Ahmed, Nahid Awad, Vinod Paul, Hesham G. Moussa and Ghaleb A. Husseini*
Affiliation:
- Department of Chemical Engineering, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah,United Arab Emirates
Keywords:
Chemotherapy, multi-drug resistance, anthracyclines, doxorubicin, nano-carriers, ultrasound.
Abstract: Conventional chemotherapeutics lack the specificity and controllability, thus may poison
healthy cells while attempting to kill cancerous ones. Newly developed nano-drug delivery systems have
shown promise in delivering anti-tumor agents with enhanced stability, durability and overall performance;
especially when used along with targeting and triggering techniques. This work traces back the
history of chemotherapy, addressing the main challenges that have encouraged the medical researchers
to seek a sanctuary in nanotechnological-based drug delivery systems that are grafted with appropriate
targeting techniques and drug release mechanisms. A special focus will be directed to acoustically triggered
liposomes encapsulating doxorubicin.
