Biodegradable Polymer Micelles in Drug Delivery Systems
Summary
Biodegradable polymer micelles are nanoscopic assemblies formed by the self-organisation of amphiphilic block copolymers in aqueous media. These structures feature a hydrophobic core capable of encapsulating poorly soluble therapeutic agents and a hydrophilic shell that stabilises the particle in physiological environments. Upon systemic administration, micelles exploit passive targeting via the enhanced permeability and retention effect and can be further tailored for active targeting through ligand conjugation. The degradability of the polymer backbone ensures eventual clearance and minimises long-term toxicity. Stimuli-responsive designs—triggered by pH, redox potential or enzymatic activity—enable on-demand drug release at the disease site, improving therapeutic indices and reducing off-target effects. Recent advancements have addressed challenges of premature dissociation in circulation and limited drug-loading capacity through crosslinking strategies and novel polymer architectures. The global impact of biodegradable polymer micelles extends beyond oncology to antimicrobial therapies, gene delivery and regenerative medicine, positioning them as a versatile platform for precision nanomedicine.
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Biodegradable Polymer Micelles in Drug Delivery Systems publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in biodegradable polymer micelles in drug delivery systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Amphiphilic block copolymer: A polymer containing covalently linked hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments that can self-assemble into micelles in water.
Critical micelle concentration (CMC): The minimum polymer concentration at which micelles form in solution.
Stimuli-responsive: Materials engineered to change their structure or properties upon exposure to specific internal or external triggers (e.g. pH, redox environment).
Crosslinking-induced reassembly: A process by which covalent bonds between polymer chains at the micelle interface enhance stability and orchestrate microphase separation.
Hydrophobic core / Hydrophilic shell: The inner region of a micelle that solubilises hydrophobic drugs and the outer layer that interacts favourably with aqueous media, respectively.
References
- Facile Preparation of Reduction-Responsive Micelles Based on Biodegradable Amphiphilic Polyurethane with Disulfide Bonds in the Backbone. Polymers (2019).
- pH and reduction dual-responsive micelles based on novel polyurethanes with detachable poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) shell for controlled release of doxorubicin. Drug Delivery (2019).
- Crosslinking Induced Reassembly of Multiblock Polymers: Addressing the Dilemma of Stability and Responsivity. Advanced Science (2020).
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