Issue 5, 2024

Sub-100 nm carriers by template polymerization for drug delivery applications

Abstract

Size-controlled drug delivery systems (DDSs) have gained significant attention in the field of pharmaceutical sciences due to their potential to enhance drug efficacy, minimize side effects, and improve patient compliance. This review provides a concise overview of the preparation method, advancements, and applications of size-controlled drug delivery systems focusing on the sub-100 nm size DDSs. The importance of tailoring the size for achieving therapeutic goals is briefly mentioned. We highlight the concept of “template polymerization”, a well-established method in covalent polymerization that offers precise control over molecular weight. We demonstrate the utility of this approach in crafting a monolayer of a polymer around biomolecule templates such as DNA, RNA, and protein, achieving the generation of DDSs with sizes ranging from several tens of nanometers. A few representative examples of small-size DDSs that share a conceptual similarity to “template polymerization” are also discussed. This review concludes by briefly discussing the drug release behaviors and the future prospects of “template polymerization” for the development of innovative size-controlled drug delivery systems, which promise to optimize drug delivery precision, efficacy, and safety.

Graphical abstract: Sub-100 nm carriers by template polymerization for drug delivery applications

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
04 Nov 2023
Accepted
27 Feb 2024
First published
29 Feb 2024
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY-NC license

Nanoscale Horiz., 2024,9, 693-707

Sub-100 nm carriers by template polymerization for drug delivery applications

P. K. Hashim and S. S. M. A. Abdrabou, Nanoscale Horiz., 2024, 9, 693 DOI: 10.1039/D3NH00491K

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