Drug Delivery Systems Derived from Porous Silicon and Polymers for Cancer Treatments

Chemotherapy is used extensively for inhibiting the growth of tumors or reducing tumor size. However, most of the potential and existing drugs are poorly water soluble, which greatly limits their practical application. In this thesis, effects were made to develop new drug delivery systems from porous silicon nanomaterials and polymers for cancer treatments. The hydrophobic camptothecin was chosen as a model anticancer drug. Due to the pore confinement of nanomaterials, drug solubility could be improved and sustained drug release was achieved. Porous silicon incorporated with polymer and active targeting peptide could maintain colloidal stability and enhance cell killing.