Amphiphilic Polymer Nanocarriers for Drug Delivery Systems
Summary
Amphiphilic polymer nanocarriers combine hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments within a single macromolecule, enabling spontaneous self-assembly into nanoscale structures such as micelles, vesicles and nanoparticles. These architectures protect therapeutic agents from premature degradation, enhance aqueous solubility of poorly water-soluble drugs and allow tunable release profiles. By adjusting the balance between hydrophilic and hydrophobic blocks, researchers tailor particle size, surface charge and stability in physiological environments. Functionalisation of pendant groups or incorporation of targeting ligands facilitates active delivery to specific tissues or cells, reducing off-target effects and improving therapeutic indices. Biodegradable polyester backbones and polysaccharide-based amphiphiles feature prominently, owing to their inherent biocompatibility and enzymatic degradability. Advances in polymer design have introduced responsive linkages that release cargo under pH, redox or enzymatic stimuli, further refining control over drug bioavailability. Collectively, these developments position amphiphilic polymer nanocarriers as versatile platforms for oncology, antimicrobial therapies and the delivery of genetic material, with growing interest in clinical translation and scalable manufacturing.
Research from Nature Portfolio
No recent Nature Portfolio content available.
Amphiphilic Polymer Nanocarriers for Drug Delivery Systems publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in amphiphilic polymer nanocarriers for drug delivery systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Amphiphilic polymer: A macromolecule containing both water-loving (hydrophilic) and water-repelling (hydrophobic) segments that enables self-assembly in aqueous media.
Self-assembly: The spontaneous organisation of molecules into ordered structures driven by non-covalent interactions such as hydrophobic effects and hydrogen bonding.
Encapsulation efficiency: The proportion of a therapeutic agent successfully loaded into a nanocarrier relative to the total amount used in formulation.
Lipid–polymer hybrid nanoparticle: A composite nanocarrier combining a polymeric core for drug loading with a lipid shell to improve biocompatibility and circulation stability.
Targeting ligand: A molecular moiety attached to the carrier surface that binds to specific receptors on target cells, enhancing selective delivery.
References
- Poly (diglycerol adipate) variants as enhanced nanocarrier replacements in drug delivery applications. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science (2023).
- Self-assembled chitosan-sodium usnate drug delivery nanosystems: Synthesis, characterization, stability studies, in vitro cytotoxicity and in vivo biocompatibility against 143 B cells. Carbohydrate Polymer Technologies and Applications (2023).
- CD44-Targeted Lipid Polymer Hybrid Nanoparticles Enhance Anti-Breast Cancer Effect of Cordyceps militaris Extracts. Pharmaceutics (2023).
Turn complex research questions into confident strategic decisions
When you're under pressure to set direction, justify investment, or understand your competitive position, you need more than raw data — you need trusted insights you can act on.
Benchmark your performance against global peers using robust, methodologically sound analysis.
Combine quantitative metrics with qualitative expert insight to uncover strengths, gaps and emerging opportunities.
Gain tailored, decision-ready recommendations aligned to your strategic priorities.
Talk to us to learn more about our data dashboards and bespoke strategy reports.
Grow research skills, confidence and careers with training built for every stage of the research lifecycle.
Developed with Nature Portfolio journal Editors and internationally renowned experts. Discover three ways to learn:
Self-paced, online courses in convenient bite-sized units, covering key skills across scientific writing, publishing, grant writing, data analysis, and more.
Expert trainer-led workshops with hands-on exercises and real-time feedback across core research skills, delivered via interactive group sessions.
Editor-led workshops combining core principles in writing and publishing, personalised 1:1 feedback from Nature Portfolio Editors and hands-on exercises.
Explore course catalogues and workshop agendas, enquire about the options or request institutional pricing.