Abstract
Supramolecular binding motifs are increasingly employed in the design of biomaterials. The ability to rationally engineer specific yet reversible associations into polymer networks with supramolecular chemistry enables injectable or sprayable hydrogels that can be applied via minimally invasive administration. In this review, we highlight two main areas where supramolecular binding motifs are being used in the design of drug delivery systems: engineering network mechanics and tailoring drug-material affinity. Throughout, we highlight many of the established and emerging chemistries or binding motifs that are useful for the design of supramolecular hydrogels for drug delivery applications.
Highlights
Medical care has advanced with the discovery and development of new therapeutic modalities [1]
Tailoring drug affinity through supramolecular design. Another challenge in the design of suitable platforms for drug delivery is the encapsulation of drugs within the platform and controlled release of the therapeutics from the system
Larger systems, including the polymeric nanoparticle based on CD and camptothecin (CD-CPT) developed by the Davis group, have been explored clinically as possible therapeutics for targeted cancer therapy [194,195]
Summary
Medical care has advanced with the discovery and development of new therapeutic modalities [1]. One opportunity to extend the scope of local therapy is through the design of injectable or sprayable materials that can be applied directly at the site of interest to form a depot that controls molecule release locally [14,15,16] Within this framework, moldable hydrogels, formed via reversible interactions between associating building blocks, have been explored as platforms for drug delivery, offering minimally invasive administration and compatibility with the local tissue [17]. In situ forming hydrogels and moldable hydrogels have been explored as the rheology of these materials enables injection through narrow diameter needles or catheters for minimally invasive administration at the site of interest [28] In these cases, the injectable material forms a depot following application, which can control the release of one or more encapsulated therapeutics [29,30]. We refer the reader to comprehensive reviews on the use of supramolecular chemistry in the general design of (bio)materials or nano- and micro-scale drug carriers [36,37]
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