Thermo- and pH dual responsive polymeric micelles and nanoparticles

Abstract

A new generation of the more effective polymeric micelle and nanoparticle drug delivery systems evolved due to the emergence of stimuli-responsive polymers. Among various stimuli, pH and temperature are most widely studied for enhanced drug release at the site of action. Researchers are focusing on dual (pH and temperature) responsive polymeric micelles and nanoparticles for controlled and enhanced drug release at the site of action. These dual responsive systems are mainly evaluated for cancer therapy as certain malignancies can cause a slight increase in temperature and decrease in extracellular pH around the tumor site. Fabrication of dual responsive polymeric micelles and nanoparticles has been possible for drug delivery and imaging purposes; due to advancement in the synthesis of non-toxic dual pH- and thermo-responsive polymers. Adequately designed polymeric micelles and nanoparticles sensitive to both pH and temperature can achieve better targeting and treatment. These systems can be very efficient due to their ability to wisely distinguish between pathological and healthy tissues. Our review manuscript's primary focus is on pH- and thermo-dual responsive polymeric nanoparticles and micelles for application in precision drug delivery.