PEGylation in anti-cancer therapy: An overview

Advanced drug delivery systems using poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) is an important development in anti-cancer therapy. PEGylation has the ability to enhance the retention time of the therapeutics like proteins, enzymes small molecular drugs, liposomes and nanoparticles by protecting them against various degrading mechanisms active inside a tissue or cell, which consequently improves their therapeutic potential. PEGylation effectively alters the pharmacokinetics (PK) of a variety of drugs and dramatically improves the pharmaceutical values; recent development of which includes fabrication of stimuli-sensitive polymers/smart polymers and polymeric micelles to cope of with the pathophysiological environment of targeted site with less toxic effects and more effectiveness. This overview discusses PEGylation involving proteins, enzymes, low molecular weight drugs, liposomes and nanoparticles that has been developed, clinically tried for anti-cancer therapy during the last decade.