Advancing Drug Delivery with Biodegradable Molecularly Imprinted Polymers: From Design to Clinical Prospects

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have emerged as promising materials for drug delivery systems, offering various advantages in terms of selectivity, stability, modified/smart release properties, and targeted therapy. Despite decades of development, the clinical translation of MIP-DDS remains limited, mainly due to concerns regarding long-term safety, biodegradability, and regulatory acceptance. To overcome these limitations, current research focuses on designing MIP-DDS by incorporating degradable monomers, crosslinkers, and polymer architectures. The selection of monomers and crosslinkers, as well as polymerization strategies, critically influences not only the efficiency of the recognition sites formed but also the rate of degradation and drug release, which can occur through stimuli-responsive bond cleavage, hydrolysis, or surface erosion. Beyond synthetic considerations, systemic evaluation of the biocompatibility, toxicity, and degradation mechanisms of MIP-DDS is essential to support regulatory approval and clinical implementation. Therefore, this article discusses current advances, key design strategies, degradation mechanisms, and translational challenges of biodegradable MIP-DDS, highlighting the development of clinically viable imprinted drug delivery platforms.