New drug delivery systems and the function of camptothecin / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

Camptothecin is known to possess a broad spectrum of anticancer activities, however due to its high toxicity and low solubility in water, camptothecin is severely limited in clinic. To optimize the effects of camptothecin in the treatment of malignancies, besides the structural modification and reconstruction of camptothecin, the establishment of new drug delivery systems becomes a hot topic in the camptothecin research. This paper aims to summarize the advanced progress in the delivery system and function of camptothecin at recent years. The advances in improving the poor solubility, lactone ring instability, controlled release systems and targeting delivery systems of camptothecin are also reviewed. As the related methods and technologies are improved and developed, camptothecin will be a group of prospective anticancer drugs.