In recent years, local drug delivery systems (DDS) have emerged as powerful tools for the treatment of cancer due to their higher therapeutic efficacy and minimal toxicological effects. Biodegradable polymeric nanofibers produced by electrospinning are a promising approach to be used as local DDS considering their high surface-area-to-volume ratio associated with high drug loading, controlled porosity, biocompatibility and biodegradability.
The incorporation of photosensitizers into biodegradable nanofibers allows the development of a stimuli-responsive DDS to be used in photodynamic therapy (PDT). Under light irradiation, this system will act locally by delivering the drug directly in tumour site, selectively by affecting only the irradiated area but preserving the healthy tissues and for extended time by releasing the drug in a more controllable and prolonged manner.
The development of this local DDS will allow higher drug loadings at tumour site for an extended time, increasing the therapy efficiency and minimizing the side-effects.