Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 24, 2026
14:20
Polymalic Acid-based Nano Biopolymers for Targeting of Multiple Tumor Markers: An Opportunity for Personalized Medicine?
Published on: June 13, 2014
Targeted polymeric therapeutic nanoparticles: design, development and clinical translation
Nazila Kamaly1, Zeyu Xiao, Pedro M Valencia
1Laboratory of Nanomedicine and Biomaterials, Department of Anesthesiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Chemical Society Reviews
|March 6, 2012
Summary
Advanced polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) offer targeted drug delivery and controlled release, improving therapeutic efficacy and safety. Their design flexibility enhances drug properties, potentially leading to novel therapeutics beyond conventional formulations.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
Background:
- Polymeric materials have a 40-year history in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology.
- Evolution from simple biodegradable products to sophisticated multifunctional nanoparticles (NPs).
- Current NPs are engineered for in vivo navigation, targeting, and controlled release of agents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the design and development of targeted polymeric NPs.
- To highlight engineering challenges for this novel therapeutic class.
- To showcase recent trends and concepts in NP design and utility.
Main Methods:
- Critical review of existing literature (444 references).
- Analysis of NP design optimization and biophysicochemical properties.
- Examination of targeted polymeric NP applications.
Main Results:
- Multifunctional polymeric NPs enable precise control over drug concentration and exposure.
- NP engineering optimizes drug pharmacology, enhancing safety and efficacy.
- Drug properties like solubility and biodistribution become tunable via NP physicochemical characteristics.
Conclusions:
- Optimally designed drugs combined with engineered polymeric NPs promise improved clinical outcomes.
- Polymeric NPs represent a new class of therapeutics, distinct from the drugs they carry.
- Further research into NP design and development is crucial for realizing their full therapeutic potential.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Site-Targeted Drug Delivery Systems: Polymeric Carriers
Polymeric carriers enhance targeted drug delivery by increasing efficacy while minimizing off-target effects. These carriers comprise a biodegradable polymeric backbone integrated with functional elements that enable targeting, improve physicochemical properties, and regulate drug release.Targeting MechanismsThe targeting ability of polymeric carriers is mediated by a homing device, which is a molecular recognition component designed to selectively bind to specific tissues or cells. Monoclonal...
01:24Modified-Release Drug Delivery Systems: Site-Targeted
Site-targeted drug delivery systems enhance therapeutic efficacy while minimizing systemic toxicity and treatment costs. Unlike conventional methods, these systems ensure precise drug delivery, improving bioavailability and reducing side effects. Targeted drug delivery is classified into three levels. First-order targeting directs drugs to the capillary beds of specific organs or tissues. Second-order targets specific cell types, such as tumor cells, using receptor-mediated interactions.
02:57Targeted Cancer Therapies
The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
02:57Targeted Cancer Therapies
The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
01:29Pharmacogenomics: Identification of New Drug Targets
Advances in genomics have profoundly influenced drug discovery by increasing both the speed and accuracy of pharmaceutical development. Pharmacogenomics, which examines how genetic variation influences drug response, facilitates the identification of novel therapeutic targets and enables patient stratification for personalized treatment. These strategies contribute to improved drug efficacy, minimized adverse effects, and more efficient clinical trial design.Mapping genetic differences...