From Stealth to Shuttle: Zwitterionic Polymers as Transcytosis Enablers.
Fengyi Zhao1, Jiajia Xiang1, Youqing Shen1
1Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Smart Biomaterials and Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of the Ministry of Education, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Chemmedchem
|April 20, 2026
Summary
Zwitterionic polymers, once passive coatings, are now programmable shuttles for drug delivery. These advanced materials enable transcytosis, overcoming biological barriers for enhanced therapeutic efficacy and deep tissue penetration.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Drug Delivery Systems
Background:
- Biological barriers significantly impede therapeutic drug delivery, reducing treatment effectiveness.
- Zwitterionic polymers, known for antifouling properties, are being explored for active barrier traversal via transcytosis.
- Understanding transcytosis pathways is crucial for designing effective drug delivery systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To survey transcytosis-capable zwitterionic polymer designs.
- To synthesize evidence for adsorptive- and receptor-mediated transcytosis pathways.
- To map these pathways onto critical biological barriers for targeted drug delivery.
Main Methods:
- Review and synthesis of existing literature on zwitterionic polymers and transcytosis.
- Analysis of polymer designs that balance stealth properties with cell interaction.
- Mapping polymer-mediated transcytosis mechanisms across various biological barriers.
Main Results:
- Zwitterionic polymers can be engineered to mediate transcytosis, enabling barrier penetration.
- Strategies combine minimal protein adsorption for circulation with specific cell interactions for transcytosis.
- These polymers facilitate deep tissue penetration, enhancing drug delivery potential.
Conclusions:
- Zwitterionic polymers are repositioned from passive coatings to active, programmable drug delivery shuttles.
- Optimized zwitterionic polymers offer substantial translational potential for overcoming biological barriers.
- Data-driven discovery holds promise for advancing these smart biomaterials.
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