Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To introduce the advantages of anti-tumor nano-materials as drug carrier in prolonging the drug persistence in tumor, slowing tumor growth and reducing side effects, to investigate the safety of anti-tumor nano-materials for drug delivery.
METHODS: Using “cancer, drug carriers, carrier materials, nanotechnology, targeting” in Chinese and in English as the key words, a computer retrieval of articles between January 1990 and December 2009 was performed.
RESULTS: The nano-materials used for anticancer drug delivery include synthetic organic polymer materials, natural biological macromolecules materials and so on, as a drug carrier it can effectively reduce the adverse effects of anticancer drugs and improve its efficacy. Synthetic organic polymer materials have high purity, controllable performance, and good biodegradability, they have become the worldwide development hotspots. Most researches focus on alkyl cyanoacrylate polymer, polylactic acid, polylactic acid polyglycolic acid copolymer, polyamide-dendritic polymers and so on. Natural biological macromolecules chitosan, albumin, gelatin and starch can be used as carrier nanoparticles and exhibit good biocompatibility, biodegradability and low toxicity.

CONCLUSION: The nano-material is an ideal carrier for anticancer drugs, it has important scientific value and application, can provide a new and effective means for clinical anti-tumor treatment.