DePEGylation strategies to increase cancer nanomedicine efficacy

PEGylation of nanoparticles prolongs circulation lifetimes and maximizes nanoparticle accumulation in target tumors. However, PEGylation comes at the cost of reduced cellular uptake of nanoparticles and concomitant drug delivery. This review discusses the various stimuli-responsive dePEGylation strategies that have been employed to overcome this “PEG dilemma”.