Applications of Biodegradable Polymers in the Encapsulation of Anticancer Metal Complexes

Abstract Metal complexes have recently attracted a lot of attention, particularly as anticancer and antibacterial agents, owing to their versatile mechanisms and easily tunable characteristics. However, the application of such compounds in a medical context, especially in cancer treatment, has been hampered due to their limited solubility and stability in water and aqueous solutions, as well as a lack of selectivity. To address these limitations, several approaches have been developed to improve the targeted delivery of these compounds and their solubility. The first strategy involves the physical encapsulation of these metal complexes within carriers to facilitate controlled drug release. The second strategy involves covalently linking metal complexes to polymers, creating prodrugs that can be converted to active drugs at a more controllable rate. Despite the increasing variety of polymers available, the need to develop those able to be metabolized by the body, producing non‐toxic residues, remains crucial for effective treatment, particularly in the area of diseases such as cancer. In this perspective article, an overview of recent developments in the encapsulation of metal complexes using biodegradable polymers for cancer therapy is provided. It is specifically highlighting how the formed nanoparticles (NPs) enhance the selectivity and toxicity toward cancer cells compared to the parent metal complex, while simultaneously reducing the harmful side effects of traditional chemotherapies, opening the door for using them in combination therapies (PDT, PTT).