Polymer nanogels: a versatile nanoscopic drug delivery platform

Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2012 Jun 15;64(9):836-51. doi: 10.1016/j.addr.2012.02.002. Epub 2012 Feb 10.

Abstract

In this review we put the spotlight on crosslinked polymer nanogels, a promising platform that has the characteristics of an "ideal" drug delivery vehicle. Some of the key aspects of drug delivery vehicle design like stability, response to biologically relevant stimuli, passive targeting, active targeting, toxicity and ease of synthesis are discussed. We discuss several delivery systems in this light and highlight some examples of systems, which satisfy some or all of these design requirements. In particular, we point to the advantages that crosslinked polymeric systems bring to drug delivery. We review some of the synthetic methods of nanogel synthesis and conclude with the diverse applications in drug delivery where nanogels have been fruitfully employed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Drug Delivery Systems / methods*
  • Humans
  • Nanogels
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry*
  • Polyethyleneimine / chemistry*
  • Polymers / chemistry*

Substances

  • Nanogels
  • Polymers
  • polyethylene glycol polyethyleneimine nanogel
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Polyethyleneimine