Updates on smart polymeric carrier systems for protein delivery
Ibrahim El-Sherbiny1, Islam Khalil1,2, Isra Ali1
1a Center for Materials Science , University of Science and Technology (UST), Zewail City of Science and Technology , Cairo , Egypt.
Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy
|June 6, 2017
Summary
Smart polymers offer advanced solutions for drug delivery, particularly for unstable protein therapeutics like insulin. These stimuli-responsive materials enable targeted and controlled release, minimizing side effects and improving treatment efficacy.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Smart materials respond predictably to chemical, biochemical, physical, or mechanical stimuli by altering their properties.
- Smart polymers are increasingly used in biomedical applications for stimuli-responsive systems.
- These systems are designed for targeted drug delivery, improving therapeutic outcomes and reducing adverse effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the recent advancements in smart polymers for therapeutic delivery systems.
- To highlight the potential of stimuli-responsive polymers in overcoming challenges associated with protein therapeutics.
- To discuss the design of controlled nanosystems for enhanced delivery of protein drugs.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent research on smart polymers and drug delivery systems.
- Analysis of stimuli-responsive mechanisms in polymer-based therapeutics.
- Exploration of nanosystem designs for protein delivery.
Main Results:
- Stimuli-responsive polymers can deliver various bioactive molecules, including proteins, chemotherapeutics, and nucleic acids.
- Smart polymer-based nanosystems show promise in overcoming limitations of protein therapeutics, such as instability and short half-life.
- Controlled release systems enhance therapeutic efficacy and minimize side effects.
Conclusions:
- Smart polymers represent a significant advancement in developing effective drug delivery platforms.
- Stimuli-responsive nanosystems are crucial for the successful delivery of sensitive protein therapeutics like insulin.
- Further research in this area holds great potential for treating chronic and autoimmune diseases.
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