Cancer Drug Delivery

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Technology Many potent small-molecule anticancer drugs have poor aqueous solubility or short-term aqueous stability. In order to improve delivery efficiency and enable high drug loading without off-target toxicities, effective drug delivery methods need to be developed. Researchers at UMass Amherst have developed a new polymer-based, targeted drug delivery system that allows for the delivery of insoluble small-molecule chemotherapy drugs, as well as cell-specific targeting to enhance potency and reduce toxicity. This drug delivery system comprises a water soluble, phosphorylcholine-based polymer that is conjugated to drug molecules and cell-specific targeting moieties at multiple sites of the polymer. The chemical linkages between the polymer backbone and the drug molecules allow for incorporation of stimuli-responsive chemical moieties to achieve triggered release of the drug molecules at the desired target site.