Chemotherapy: Polycaprolactone (Pcl)-Based Drug Delivery System

The development of sustainable drug delivery platforms has elicited considerable research interest in the use of polymers. Poly-S-caprolactone (PCL) has been at the frontier of research in polymer drug delivery platform owing to its excellent biopharmaceutical properties. This entry presents a comprehensive breakdown of the use of PCL including synthesis, conjugation to drug, and chemotherapeutic applications in different cancer models and more in a succinct manner. The study covers the aspect of the use of PCL from multiple dimensions-biodegradability, mechanical strength, chemical properties, etc. In relation to the drug, the inertness of the structure has been presented which allows for the variation in drugs, including the use of hydrophobic cavity formed in the micellar structure for hydrophobic drugs. Recent research in systems from hydrogels to scaffolds and composites has also been covered illustrating the benefits of PCL over other conventional polymers. Lastly, a wholesome analysis of chemotherapeutic applications in different cancer models has also been presented.