Polymeric micelles as a new drug carrier system and their required considerations for clinical trials

Importance of the field: A polymeric micelle is a macromolecular assembly composed of an inner core and an outer shell, and most typically is formed from block copolymers. In the last two decades, polymeric micelles have been actively studied as a new type of drug carrier system, in particular for drug targeting of anticancer drugs to solid tumors.

Areas covered in this review: In this review, polymeric micelle drug carrier systems are discussed with a focus on toxicities of the polymeric micelle carrier systems and on pharmacological activities of the block copolymers. In the first section, the importance of the above-mentioned evaluation of these properties is explained, as this importance does not seem to be well recognized compared with the importance of targeting and enhanced pharmacological activity of drugs, particularly in the basic studies. Then, designs, types and classifications of the polymeric micelle system are briefly summarized and explained, followed by a detailed discussion regarding several examples of polymeric micelle carrier systems.

What the reader will gain: Readers will gain a strategy of drug delivery with polymeric carriers as well as recent progress of the polymeric micelle carrier systems in their basic studies and clinical trials.

Take home message: The purpose of this review is to achieve tight connections between the basic studies and clinical trials.