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Published on: June 13, 2014
Barrier-Oriented Design of Next-Generation Polymeric Nanocarriers for Targeted Drug Delivery
Subin Lee1,2, Yerim Kim1,2, Jeongeun Kim1,2
1Division of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, College of Art, Culture and Engineering, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon-si 24341, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea.
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
|June 12, 2026
Summary
Polymeric nanocarriers overcome biological barriers for effective targeted drug delivery. Engineering these carriers improves therapeutic transport and release for applications like cancer treatment and vaccination.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Materials Science
- Pharmaceutics
Background:
- Targeted drug delivery faces challenges from biological barriers hindering therapeutic transport.
- Polymeric nanocarriers offer tunable properties for improved circulation and cellular delivery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review biological barriers in targeted drug delivery.
- To describe polymeric nanocarrier engineering strategies for overcoming these barriers.
- To highlight applications and translational issues of nanocarrier technology.
Main Methods:
- Discussion of polymeric nanoparticle and micelle carrier types.
- Emphasis on physicochemical and interfacial features.
- Analysis of surface engineering and stimuli-responsive design.
Main Results:
- Polymeric nanocarriers can be engineered to navigate biological barriers.
- Surface modification and responsive designs enhance barrier transport and controlled release.
- Nanocarriers show promise in anticancer, gene, protein, and vaccine delivery.
Conclusions:
- Polymeric nanocarriers are versatile platforms for overcoming drug delivery barriers.
- Surface engineering and stimuli-responsive systems are crucial for efficacy.
- Further research on translational aspects is needed for clinical application.
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