Nanocarriers for the Targeted Delivery of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) to Tumours

A growing body of evidence suggests that the regular use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), especially aspirin, is associated with a reduced risk of many types of cancer including colorectal, breast, and prostate malignancies. It has also been shown that they might be beneficial in reducing metastasis and lengthening remission periods. However, the prolonged exposure to this class of drugs does not come without a cost as it carries with it the risk of augmenting the serious side effects of NSAIDs. These include haemorrhages, increased bleeding time, peptic ulcers, and hypersensitivity, to name a few. This work aimed at employing the principles of nanotherapy to maximise the benefits of NSAIDs and minimise the risks of their harmful side effects. By exploiting the enhanced permeability and retention effect (EPR) unique to inflammatory tissues, NSAID-loaded nanocarriers could deliver high concentrations of the drugs to cancer tissue, compared to conventional therapy, while reducing the systemic exposure to their effects.