Title:Block Copolymers for Drug Delivery Nano Systems (DDnSs)
VOLUME: 19 ISSUE: 29
Author(s):E. Kaditi, G. Mountrichas, S. Pispas and C. Demetzos
Affiliation:Theoretical and Physical Chemistry Institute, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Avenue, 11635, Athens, Greece.
Keywords:Block copolymers, nanomedicine, micelles, nanocarriers, drug encapsulation, advanced drug delivery nanosystems, polymer synthesis, self-assembly, controlled polymerizations, nanotechnology
Abstract:The application of polymers in medicine, as components of drug carriers, as well as their synthetic strategies are considered
essential for producing and developing new drug formulations against human deceases. The synthesis of block copolymers is a timeconsuming
process with a high cost of the final product, although several block copolymer systems have been already commercialized
successfully. The biocompatibility, the biodegradability and the non toxic profile of newly synthesized polymers towards healthy tissues,
should be taken into account in order to be acceptable for biomedical applications. In this review article, focus is placed on new approaches
and synthetic strategies for preparing novel block copolymers and their utilization as parts of new and advanced Drug Delivery
nanoSystems (aDDnSs) with a Modulatory Controlled Release profile (MCR). Such complex and advanced nanosystems can alter the
pharmacokinetic properties of the encapsulated drug and consequently its effectiveness. Emphasis is given to the use of living polymerization
methodologies and post polymerization chemical transformation reactions for the synthesis of mainly diblock copolymers for
novel drug delivery nanosystems. Issues related to self-assembly of block copolymers in solution toward formation of colloidal functional
nanostructures that can serve as nanocontainers and nanocarriers, and strategies for controlling encapsulation of specific drugs are also
discussed. Specific examples are reported mainly on diblock copolymer systems, including authors’ recent work.
