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Design strategies for physical-stimuli-responsive programmable nanotherapeutics
Fitsum Feleke Sahle1, Muhammad Gulfam1, Tao L Lowe1
1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA.
Drug Discovery Today
|April 14, 2018
Summary
Stimuli-responsive nanomaterials offer controlled drug delivery. This review synthesizes design strategies for programmable nanotherapeutics activated by physical triggers like heat or light.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Stimuli-responsive nanomaterials enable targeted therapeutic agent delivery.
- External physical stimuli (temperature, light, ultrasound, magnetic/electric fields) can control nanomaterial function.
- Existing literature on programming these nanotherapeutics is fragmented.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and synthesize design strategies for programmable physical-stimuli-responsive nanotherapeutics.
- To consolidate knowledge on tailoring nanotherapeutic responses to external triggers.
- To provide a comprehensive overview of advanced nanotherapeutic design.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review of stimuli-responsive nanotherapeutics.
- Analysis of design strategies for physical-stimuli-responsive nanomedicines.
- Synthesis of data on programming nanotherapeutics for controlled drug release.
Main Results:
- Identified diverse design strategies for simple and sophisticated programmable nanotherapeutics.
- Highlighted the potential of various physical stimuli for precise control.
- Showcased advancements in tailoring pharmacologic responses using external triggers.
Conclusions:
- Programmable physical-stimuli-responsive nanotherapeutics represent a significant advancement in drug delivery.
- Systematic design strategies are crucial for optimizing therapeutic efficacy.
- Further research in this area promises enhanced targeted therapies.
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