Main Fabrication Methods of Micellar Nanoparticles for Nanoscale Tumor Therapy through the Self-assembly of Amphiphilic Copolymers

Abstract

Abstract: Micellar nanoparticles synthesized through the self-assembly of amphiphilic copolymers have been widely used to encapsulate various cancer therapeutic agents for preclinical and clinical applications. These drug delivery systems are easy to fabricate and have good biocompatibility in general. In this article, we provide an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of micellar nanoparticles for the fabrication of therapeutic agent-loaded nanoparticles from amphiphilic copolymers, the examples of common polymer materials, and methods used to prepare micellar nanoparticles, including emulsion solvent evaporation method, double emulsion method, nanoprecipitation method, etc. By choosing an appropriate technique, different therapeutic agents with different properties can be incorporated into nanoparticles individually or in combination. We analyzed the parameters of various preparation methods, with particular emphasis on improvements in improved techniques for simultaneous co-loading of hydrophilic/hydrophobic drugs and therapeutic nucleic acids in a single nanoparticle. It will allow researchers to choose the appropriate method to design therapeutic agent-loaded micellar nanoparticles from amphiphilic copolymers.