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Polymer-Based Designer Particles as Drug Carriers: Strategies to Construct and Modify
Nidhi Gupta1,2, Sampa Saha1
1Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India.
ACS Applied Bio Materials
|May 23, 2025
Summary
Advanced polymeric particles mimic biological structures to overcome drug delivery challenges. Shape-engineered carriers improve therapeutic efficacy, targeting, and circulation for complex diseases.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Drug Delivery Systems
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Biological barriers pose significant challenges for effective therapeutic delivery.
- Polymeric particles offer versatile solutions due to tunable physiochemical properties.
- Traditional spherical carriers often fall short in navigating complex physiological environments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in polymeric particle morphology for enhanced drug delivery.
- To explore how structural engineering of particles impacts drug efficacy and delivery capabilities.
- To highlight structure-function relationships in biomimetic polymeric particles.
Main Methods:
- Review of literature on advanced polymeric particle designs and fabrication.
- Analysis of shape-directed engineering (rod, red-blood-cell, worm-shaped, multicompartmental) for drug delivery.
- Correlation of particle structure with functional properties and therapeutic outcomes.
Main Results:
- Shape-engineered polymeric particles demonstrate improved cellular uptake, prolonged circulation, and tissue penetration.
- Biomimetic particle designs offer enhanced target specificity and controlled release kinetics.
- Multicompartmental systems enable combination therapies for complex diseases.
Conclusions:
- Structural engineering of polymeric particles significantly enhances drug delivery capabilities.
- Advanced particle designs hold potential to transform treatment strategies for complex diseases.
- Further research is needed to address challenges in scale-up, reproducibility, and clinical translation.
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