Publication

Advanced drug delivery devices via self-assembly of amphiphilic block copolymers

Harm-Anton Klok
2001
Journal paper

Abstract

Amphiphilic block copolymers are well established as building blocks for the preparation of micellar drug carriers. Over the past decade, the effectiveness of such self-assembled drug delivery devices has been demonstrated numerous times. This review will discuss two approaches that can be used to further improve the effectiveness of amphiphilic block copolymer-based drug delivery systems. The first approach involves the chemical modification of the block copolymer building blocks. Several examples will be discussed of amphiphilic block copolymers modified with crosslinkable groups in order to increase the stability of the micellar drug carriers, or of block copolymers containing specific ligands that could ultimately allow targeted drug delivery. The second approach to improve the performance of micellar drug carriers is the addition of auxiliary agents. To illustrate this approach, the feasibility of channel proteins and metal (nano)particles to improve temporal control over the drug release process is discussed. © 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Official source

https://infoscience.epfl.ch/record/52145?ln=en

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Ontological neighbourhood

Chemical engineering

Nanotechnology: Topics in nanotechnology

Related concepts (29)

Copolymer

In polymer chemistry, a copolymer is a polymer derived from more than one species of monomer. The polymerization of monomers into copolymers is called copolymerization. Copolymers obtained from the copolymerization of two monomer species are sometimes called bipolymers. Those obtained from three and four monomers are called terpolymers and quaterpolymers, respectively. Copolymers can be characterized by a variety of techniques such as NMR spectroscopy and size-exclusion chromatography to determine the molecular size, weight, properties, and composition of the material.

Self-assembly of nanoparticles

Nanoparticles are classified as having at least one of three dimensions be in the range of 1-100 nm. The small size of nanoparticles allows them to have unique characteristics which may not be possible on the macro-scale. Self-assembly is the spontaneous organization of smaller subunits to form larger, well-organized patterns. For nanoparticles, this spontaneous assembly is a consequence of interactions between the particles aimed at achieving a thermodynamic equilibrium and reducing the system’s free energy.

Drug delivery

Drug delivery refers to approaches, formulations, manufacturing techniques, storage systems, and technologies involved in transporting a pharmaceutical compound to its target site to achieve a desired therapeutic effect. Principles related to drug preparation, route of administration, site-specific targeting, metabolism, and toxicity are used to optimize efficacy and safety, and to improve patient convenience and compliance. Drug delivery is aimed at altering a drug's pharmacokinetics and specificity by formulating it with different excipients, drug carriers, and medical devices.

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