Polymeric micelles formed from amphiphilic block copolymers have a particle size of several tens of nanometers and can encapsulate hydrophobic drugs inside cores. To date, the development of drug delivery systems (DDS) using nano drug carriers is under investigation, taking advantage of the characteristic nanoparticle accumulation phenomenon (Enhanced Permeability and Retention effect) at solid tumors. We have designed temperature-responsive nano drug carriers which can trigger drug release in combination with cancer thermotherapy (heating of the body to around 42oC). After the drug carriers are accumulated in the cancer tissue, energy irradiation is applied only to the affected area, enabling spatial and temporal control of local drug release for the improvement of treatment efficiency as well as side effect reduction.
