Polymeric micelles: “magic bullets” for cancer treatment

Yue Gao; Meihong Zhang; Qian Chen; Yuxin Lin; Chuanbin Wu; Xin Pan; Ling Guo; Tze Ning Hiew; Zhengwei Huang

doi:10.1631/bdm.2500054

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Polymeric micelles: “magic bullets” for cancer treatment

Journal article

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Peer reviewed

Polymeric micelles: “magic bullets” for cancer treatment

Yue Gao, Meihong Zhang, Qian Chen, Yuxin Lin, Chuanbin Wu, Xin Pan, Ling Guo, Tze Ning Hiew and Zhengwei Huang

Bio-design and manufacturing, Vol.8(6), pp.1103-1125

11/2025

DOI: 10.1631/bdm.2500054

Appears in UI Libraries Support Open Access

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Abstract

Nanocarriers are an efficient drug delivery tool used for cancer treatment. Among various nanocarriers, polymeric micelles (PMs) have garnered attention in recent years due to their excellent properties, including improved solubility of insoluble drugs, enhanced targeting and accumulation of drugs at the cancer site, increased sensitivity of cancer cells to chemotherapeutic drugs, and prolonged circulation time. This review summarizes the preparation methods, characterization, advantages, and classification of PMs as drug delivery systems for oncology therapeutics. In particular, the self-assembly mechanisms of active ingredients into PMs, the anticancer activities of PMs associated with various cell death pathways, and the research cases of PMs as drug delivery vehicles in cancer therapy are described. Finally, this review summarizes the status of the clinical trials and real-world applications of PMs and briefly analyzes the reasons for the unsatisfactory commercialized states. This review supports further research on the role of PMs as nanocarriers in cancer therapy and adds insights for the successful clinical translation of PM-based products.

Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Biomaterials

Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering

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Details

Title: Subtitle: Polymeric micelles: “magic bullets” for cancer treatment
Creators: Yue Gao - Jinan University
Meihong Zhang - Jinan University
Qian Chen - Jinan University
Yuxin Lin
Chuanbin Wu - Jinan University
Xin Pan - Sun Yat-sen University
Ling Guo - Hainan University
Tze Ning Hiew - Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, The University of Iowa
Zhengwei Huang - Jinan University
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Bio-design and manufacturing, Vol.8(6), pp.1103-1125
DOI: 10.1631/bdm.2500054
ISSN: 2096-5524
eISSN: 2522-8552
Publisher: Springer Nature
Number of pages: 23
Grant note: National Natural Science Foundation of China: 82373800, 82104070 General Program of Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Guangdong Province: 20241071 Science and Technology Innovation Project of Drug Administration of Guangdong Province: 2023YDZ06 Hainan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China: 823MS032
This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 82373800 and 82104070), the General Program of Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Guangdong Province (No. 20241071), the Science and Technology Innovation Project of Drug Administration of Guangdong Province (No. 2023YDZ06), and the Hainan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 823MS032).
Language: English
Date published: 11/2025
Academic Unit: Pharmaceutical Sciences and Experimental Therapeutics
Record Identifier: 9985034936102771

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