Polymer micro- and nanocapsules as biological carriers with multifunctional properties

The design and development of multifunctional polymer capsules with controlled chemical composition and physical properties has been the focus of academic and industrial research in recent years. Especially in the biomedical field, the formulation of novel polymer-based encapsulation systems for the early-stage disease diagnostic and effective delivery of bioactive agents represent one of the most rapidly advancing areas of science. The stimuli-responsive release of cargo molecules from the carrier gains remarkable attention for in vitro and in vivo delivery of contrast agents, genes, and pharmaceutics. In this Review, the current status and the challenges of different polymer-based micro- and nanocapsule formulations are considered, emphasizing on their potential biological application as carriers for specific drug targeting and controlled release upon applying of external stimulus.