Stimuli Responsive Poly(Vinyl Caprolactam) Gels for Biomedical Applications

Area of Science:

• Polymer Science
• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science

Background:

• Poly(vinyl caprolactam) (PNVCL) is a thermoresponsive polymer with properties similar to poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAM).
• PNVCL exhibits a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) in the physiological range (32–34 °C), causing precipitation from aqueous solutions.
• PNVCL is considered advantageous due to potentially lower toxicity compared to PNIPAM, driving interest in its biomedical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in PNVCL-based stimuli-responsive three-dimensional hydrogels.
• To explore the biomedical applications of these PNVCL hydrogels, including macro, micro, and nano-scale formulations.
• To discuss the future prospects of PNVCL hydrogels, particularly in the field of drug delivery.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent studies on PNVCL-based hydrogels.
• Analysis of PNVCL copolymer gel properties, including sensitivity to temperature and pH.
• Examination of diverse biomedical applications and drug delivery systems utilizing PNVCL hydrogels.

Main Results:

• PNVCL hydrogels demonstrate significant stimuli-responsive behavior (temperature and pH).
• Recent research showcases a variety of PNVCL hydrogel architectures (macro, micro, nano) for biomedical applications.
• PNVCL hydrogels show promise for advanced drug delivery systems due to their tunable properties.

Conclusions:

• PNVCL-based hydrogels are versatile materials for biomedical applications owing to their stimuli-responsive nature.
• The potential for lower toxicity makes PNVCL an attractive alternative to PNIPAM in biomedical contexts.
• Future research on PNVCL hydrogels is expected to yield innovative solutions, especially in targeted and controlled drug delivery.