Applications of stimuli-responsive nanoscale drug delivery systems in translational research. Issue 5 (May 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gu, Mengjie; Wang, Xin; Toh, Tan Boon; Chow, Edward Kai-Hua
• Is Part Of: Drug discovery today. Volume 23:Issue 5(2018)
• Page Start: 1043
• Page End: 1052
• Publication Date: 2018-05
• Subjects: Drugs -- Design -- Periodicals; Drugs -- Research -- Periodicals; 615.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2017.11.009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-6446

Abstract

Highlights: Nanomedicine is a promising strategy for target-specific delivery of therapeutics. Stimuli-responsive nanocarriers enhance tissue specificity. Advances in nanotechnology improve translation of stimuli-responsive nanocarriers. Abstract : Nanoscale drug delivery systems or nanocarriers have shown tremendous promise in the target-specific delivery of therapeutics as well as diagnostic agents. Additional properties can be introduced into nanocarriers to enhance the bioavailability and targeting efficiency of the transported drugs at diseased sites. Such nanocarriers are usually incorporated with stimuli-responsive components that can be triggered by specific stimuli (e.g., temperature, pH, or enzymes) and further induced by certain biological responses, such as enzyme hydrolysis and molecular conformational changes, leading to the controlled release of the transported molecules at targeted sites. In this review, we discuss various stimuli-responsive nanoscale delivery systems and summarize the current perspectives as well as challenges facing the successful translation of these innovative stimuli-responsive nanocarriers from the bench to the bedside.