Engineered polymers for advanced drug delivery.
Engineered polymers have been utilized for developing advanced drug delivery systems. The development of such polymers has caused advances in polymer chemistry, which, in turn, has resulted in smart polymers that can respond to changes in environmental condition such as temperature, pH, and biomolecules. The responses vary widely from swelling/deswelling to degradation. Drug-polymer conjugates and drug-containing nano/micro-particles have been used for drug targeting. Engineered polymers and polymeric systems have also been used in new areas, such as molecular imaging as well as in nanotechnology. This review examines the engineered polymers that have been used as traditional drug delivery systems and as more recent applications in nanotechnology.
Kim
Sungwon
S
Department of Pharmaceutics and Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2032, USA.
Kim
Jong-Ho
JH
Jeon
Oju
O
Kwon
Ick Chan
IC
Park
Kinam
K
D000818:Animals; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008863:Microspheres; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage; D036103:Nanotechnology; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature
D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004337:Drug Carriers; D011108:Polymers