title: Environmentally Responsive Systems for Drug Delivery.
abstract: In recent decades, the development of the environmentally responsive systems for drug delivery has been well regarded, with enormous potential in different applications. &lt;P&gt;&lt;P&gt; Methods: These environmentally sensitive, smart, intelligent formulations have the ability to alter their physical properties in response to small changes in physical or chemical conditions, such as temperature, glucose, pH, ultrasound, light, electric field and redox potential with a huge potential in drug delivery systems. The use of formulations containing smart materials enables to carry the drug to the target tissue, cells and release in a triggered way. Consequently, they have demonstrated several advantages like decreased dose frequency, ease of preparation and administration, prolonged release with reduced side effects, as well as, reduced costs when compared to conventional processes for industrial applications. In this sense, many patents have deposited, displaying different pharmaceutical devices using responsive systems. &lt;P&gt;&lt;P&gt; Results: There are more than twenty-five patents deposited about thermoresponsive systems. Furthermore, a few number of patents within glucose responsive, ultrasound responsive and light responsive deposited. There also are about eight patents that are pH-responsive, four as electric-field responsive. Most of them cover more than one type of stimuli. &lt;P&gt;&lt;P&gt; Conclusion: Therefore, in this review, since 1975 to 2016, we have categorized, reviewed and discussed the patents, applications, pharmaceutical dosage forms, the importance and perspectives of this environmentally responsive approach as potentially useful therapeutic modality.
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Laboratory of Research and Development of Drug Delivery Systems, Department of Pharmacy, State University of Maringa, Maringa. Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcos L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bruschi
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Laboratory of Research and Development of Drug Delivery Systems, Department of Pharmacy, State University of Maringa, Maringa. Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Borghi-Pangoni
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Laboratory of Research and Development of Drug Delivery Systems, Department of Pharmacy, State University of Maringa, Maringa. Brazil.
authors.forename: Mariana V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Junqueira
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Laboratory of Research and Development of Drug Delivery Systems, Department of Pharmacy, State University of Maringa, Maringa. Brazil.
authors.forename: Sabrina B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: de Souza Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Laboratory of Research and Development of Drug Delivery Systems, Department of Pharmacy, State University of Maringa, Maringa. Brazil.
authors.forename: Jessica B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: da Silva
mesh_terms: D004339:Drug Compounding; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D004777:Environment; D006801:Humans; D010330:Patents as Topic
keywords: Drug delivery; biodegradable polymers; responsive systems; self-regulating; sensitive systems; technology