title: Intelligent recognitive systems in nanomedicine.
abstract: There is a bright future in the development and utilization of nanoscale systems based on intelligent materials that can respond to external input providing a beneficial function. Specific functional groups can be incorporated into polymers to make them responsive to environmental stimuli such as pH, temperature, or varying concentrations of biomolecules. The fusion of such "intelligent" biomaterials with nanotechnology has led to the development of powerful therapeutic and diagnostic platforms. For example, targeted release of proteins and chemotherapeutic drugs has been achieved using pH-responsive nanocarriers while biosensors with ultra-trace detection limits are being made using nanoscale, molecularly imprinted polymers. The efficacy of therapeutics and the sensitivity of diagnostic platforms will continue to progress as unique combinations of responsive polymers and nanomaterials emerge.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas at Austin, Department of Biomedical Engineering, 107 W. Dean Keeton, BME Building, 1 University Station, C0800, Austin, TX 78712 USA.
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Culver
authors.affiliation: University of Texas at Austin, Department of Biomedical Engineering, 107 W. Dean Keeton, BME Building, 1 University Station, C0800, Austin, TX 78712 USA.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Daily
authors.affiliation: Harvard University, School of Medicine, Brigham & Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115 USA ; Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge MA 02139 USA ; Harvard University, Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, 3 Blackfan Circle, Boston, MA 02115 USA.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khademhosseini
authors.affiliation: University of Texas at Austin, Department of Biomedical Engineering, 107 W. Dean Keeton, BME Building, 1 University Station, C0800, Austin, TX 78712 USA ; University of Texas at Austin, College of Pharmacy, 100 W. Dean Keeton Street, Austin, TX 78712 USA ; University of Texas at Austin, Department of Chemical Engineering, 200 E. Dean Keeton Street, C0400, Austin, TX 78712.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Peppas