Chapter 4 - Stimuli-responsive polymeric nanoparticles as controlled drug delivery systems

Abstract

The development of stimuli-responsive polymeric nanocarriers has been emerged as a promising technological platform in pharmaceutical and biomedical areas for the targeted and controlled delivery of drugs and bioactive compounds. These nanocarriers have shown a tremendous promise due to their unique and modulable properties, in addition to their ability to respond to endogenous (pH, enzymes, redox values, hypoxia, glucose levels), or exogenous (light, temperature, magnetism, ultrasound, electrical pulses) stimuli, allowing the targeted delivery of drugs and biomolecules. This chapter covers some of the essential aspects to a better comprehension of stimuli-responsive polymeric nanocarriers used as drug delivery systems. The different methodologies employed for their development (emulsification, emulsion polymerization, spray-drying, layer-by-layer deposition, supercritical technology of fluids, and dialysis) and some of their physicochemical properties (size, shape, surface charge, and hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity) are presented and discussed. The obstacles, current challenges, and perspectives regarding the design of novel nanotechnological platforms for drug delivery with higher performance are also discussed.