Advanced Smart Polymer Platforms for Controlled and Site-Specific Drug Delivery

Abstract

Smart polymers, also referred to as stimuli-responsive polymers are arguably one of the most innovative materials in contemporary pharmaceutics. These are sensitive to external stimuli such as pH, temperature, enzymes, redox potential or magnetic fields resulting in the changing of their physical/chemical behaviours. Such responsive mechanisms facilitate controlled and site-specific drug delivery at the right time and place, increasing therapeutic efficacy while reducing systemic adverse effects. This review provides an overview of smart polymer-based drug delivery systems, addressing their classification, potential mechanisms, formulation strategies, biomedical functions and regulatory aspects from a collective work perspective. The highlights of this discussion include developments in cancer treatment, diabetes management and tissue engineering as well as the hurdles in large-scale production and clinical translation.