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Polymers
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Recent Advances in Polymer-Based Drug Delivery Systems
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Recent Advances in Polymer-Based Drug Delivery Systems

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Biomacromolecules, Biobased and Biodegradable Polymers".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 August 2024 | Viewed by 7462

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ling Ding

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Clinical Pharmacology Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
Interests: polymer based drug/gene delivery; biomaterials; advanced nanomaterials and nanotechnology
Dr. Huizhen Jia

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Composite and Functional Materials, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
Interests: biomaterials; polymer; drug delivery; polymeric nanoparticle; gene delivery; nanomedicine; cancer therapy; liver fibrosis therapy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Novel delivery platforms based on natural and synthetic polymers have shown great therapeutic potential for the treatment of different kinds of diseases. Polymers can realize the efficient delivery and controlled release of cargo through physical adsorption, chemical conjunction, and/or internal loading. Notably, polymers with biodegradability, biocompatibility, and physicochemical stability are considered to be ideal delivery carriers. For example, the surface coating of a polymer with polyethylene glycol (PEG) improves water solubility and blood circulation; the conjugation of a polymer with specific markers/antibodies helps control drug distribution/targeting delivery in cancer specifically; some polymeric nanoparticles can cross the blood–brain barrier or improve drug resistance, etc. Polymer drug carriers should be nontoxic and non-immunogenic, which provides a safe framework to deliver therapeutic drugs without harm to the body. Biodegradable and bio-absorbable polymers are a promising choice for delivery systems, such as poly (lactic acid) and poly (glycolic acid) hydrogels. 

This Special Issue is focused on the latest development of novel delivery platforms based on natural and synthetic polymers.

Dr. Ling Ding
Dr. Huizhen Jia
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • polymer
  • polymeric drug
  • smart polymers
  • drug delivery systems
  • biodegradable/bioabsorbable
  • copolymers
  • natural/synthetic polymer

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 5055 KiB  
Article
Sulfonated Polyether Ketone Membranes Embedded with Nalidixic Acid—An Emerging Controlled Drug Releaser
by Himabindu Padinjarathil, Vidya Vilasini, Rajalakshmi Balasubramanian, Carmelo Drago, Sandro Dattilo and Prasanna Ramani
Polymers 2023, 15(17), 3631; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15173631 - 01 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1168
Abstract
The effective administration of medication has advanced over decades, but the medical community still faces significant demand. Burst release and inadequate assimilation are major drawbacks that affect wound healing efficiency, leading to therapy failure. The widespread application of polymers in biomedical research is [...] Read more.
The effective administration of medication has advanced over decades, but the medical community still faces significant demand. Burst release and inadequate assimilation are major drawbacks that affect wound healing efficiency, leading to therapy failure. The widespread application of polymers in biomedical research is significant. The polyether ether ketone (PEEK) family is known for its biocompatibility, inertness, and semi-crystalline thermoplastic properties. In our present studies, we have chosen a member of this family, polyether ketone (PEK), to explore its role as a drug carrier. The PEK backbone was subjected to sulfonation to increase its hydrophilicity. The response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the sulfonation process based on the time, degree of sulfonation, and temperature. The PEK polymer was sulfonated using sulfuric acid at 150 °C for 6 h; back titration was performed to quantify the degree of sulfonation, with 69% representing the maximum sulfonation. SPEK and nalidixic sodium salt were dissolved in dichloroacetic acid to create a thin membrane. The physiological and morphological properties were assessed for the SPEK membrane. The studies on drug release in distilled water and a simulated body fluid over the course of 24 h revealed a controlled, gradual increase in the release rate, correlating with a mathematical model and demonstrating the zero-order nature of the drug release. Hemolysis on the SPEK membrane revealed lower toxicity. The SPEK membrane’s biocompatibility was established using in vitro cytotoxicity tests on the Vero (IC50: 137.85 g/mL) cell lines. These results confirm that the SPEK membranes are suitable for sustained drug release. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Polymer-Based Drug Delivery Systems)
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16 pages, 3170 KiB  
Article
Formulation and Characteristics of Edible Oil Nanoemulsions Modified with Polymeric Surfactant for Encapsulating Curcumin
by Tzu-Chi Chiang, Jia-Yaw Chang and Tzung-Han Chou
Polymers 2023, 15(13), 2864; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15132864 - 28 Jun 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1208
Abstract
Curcumin (Cur) is a beneficial phytochemical with numerous health advantages. However, its limited solubility in oil and poor stability hinder its potential for biomedical applications. In this study, we employed a mixture of food-grade Tween 60, a polymeric surfactant, and Span 60 to [...] Read more.
Curcumin (Cur) is a beneficial phytochemical with numerous health advantages. However, its limited solubility in oil and poor stability hinder its potential for biomedical applications. In this study, we employed a mixture of food-grade Tween 60, a polymeric surfactant, and Span 60 to adjust the hydrophilic lipophilic balance number (HLBt) and prepared nanoemulsions (NEs) of coconut oil (Cc oil) as carriers for Cur. The effects of HLBt values, surfactant-to-oil ratio, and oil ratio on the physicochemical characteristics of the food-grade oil-NEs were investigated using dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, fluorescence polarization spectroscopy, and viscometry. Increasing the addition ratio of Tween 60 in the NEs, thereby increasing the HLBt, resulted in a reduction in NE size and an improvement in their storage stability. The temperature and size of the phase transition region of the NEs decreased with increasing HLBt. NEs with higher HLBt exhibited a disordering effect on the intra-NE molecular packing of Cc oil. NEs with high HLBt displayed low viscosity and demonstrated nearly Newtonian fluid behavior, while those with lower HLBt exhibited pseudoplastic fluid behavior. Cur was effectively encapsulated into the Cc oil-NEs, with higher encapsulation efficiency observed in NEs with higher HLBt values. Furthermore, the Cur remaining activity was significantly enhanced through encapsulation within stable NEs. The biocompatibility of the Cc oil-NEs was also demonstrated in vitro. In summary, this study highlights the preparation of stable NEs of Cc oil by adjusting the HLBt using Tween 60, facilitating effective encapsulation of Cur. These findings provide valuable insights for the development of Cur carriers with improved solubility, stability, and bioavailability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Polymer-Based Drug Delivery Systems)
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15 pages, 20109 KiB  
Article
Soluble Polymer Microneedles Loaded with Interferon Alpha 1b for Treatment of Hyperplastic Scar
by Baorui Wang, Suohui Zhang, Aguo Cheng, Juan Yan and Yunhua Gao
Polymers 2023, 15(12), 2621; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15122621 - 08 Jun 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1296
Abstract
To achieve the painless administration of interferon alpha 1b (rhIFNα-1b), a double-layered soluble polymer microneedle (MN) patch loaded with rhIFNα-1b was used to deliver rhIFNα-1b transdermally. The solution containing rhIFNα-1b was concentrated in the MN tips under negative pressure. The MNs punctured the [...] Read more.
To achieve the painless administration of interferon alpha 1b (rhIFNα-1b), a double-layered soluble polymer microneedle (MN) patch loaded with rhIFNα-1b was used to deliver rhIFNα-1b transdermally. The solution containing rhIFNα-1b was concentrated in the MN tips under negative pressure. The MNs punctured the skin and delivered rhIFNα-1b to the epidermis and dermis. The MN tips implanted in the skin dissolved within 30 min and gradually released rhIFNα-1b. The rhIFNα-1b had a significant inhibitory effect on the abnormal proliferation of fibroblasts and excessive deposition of collagen fibers in the scar tissue. The color and thickness of the scar tissue treated using the MN patches loaded with rhIFNα-1b were effectively reduced. The relative expressions of type I collagen (Collagen I), type III collagen (Collagen III), transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were significantly downregulated in scar tissues. In summary, the MN patch loaded with rhIFNα-1b provided an effective method for the transdermal delivery of rhIFNα-1b. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Polymer-Based Drug Delivery Systems)
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Review

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35 pages, 2214 KiB  
Review
Polymer-Based Drug Delivery Systems for Cancer Therapeutics
by Ling Ding, Prachi Agrawal, Sandeep K. Singh, Yashpal S. Chhonker, Jingjing Sun and Daryl J. Murry
Polymers 2024, 16(6), 843; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16060843 - 19 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1056
Abstract
Chemotherapy together with surgery and/or radiotherapy are the most common therapeutic methods for treating cancer. However, the off-target effects of chemotherapy are known to produce side effects and dose-limiting toxicities. Novel delivery platforms based on natural and synthetic polymers with enhanced pharmacokinetic and [...] Read more.
Chemotherapy together with surgery and/or radiotherapy are the most common therapeutic methods for treating cancer. However, the off-target effects of chemotherapy are known to produce side effects and dose-limiting toxicities. Novel delivery platforms based on natural and synthetic polymers with enhanced pharmacokinetic and therapeutic potential for the treatment of cancer have grown tremendously over the past 10 years. Polymers can facilitate selective targeting, enhance and prolong circulation, improve delivery, and provide the controlled release of cargos through various mechanisms, including physical adsorption, chemical conjugation, and/or internal loading. Notably, polymers that are biodegradable, biocompatible, and physicochemically stable are considered to be ideal delivery carriers. This biomimetic and bio-inspired system offers a bright future for effective drug delivery with the potential to overcome the obstacles encountered. This review focuses on the barriers that impact the success of chemotherapy drug delivery as well as the recent developments based on natural and synthetic polymers as platforms for improving drug delivery for treating cancer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Polymer-Based Drug Delivery Systems)
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36 pages, 9536 KiB  
Review
Electrospun PVA Fibers for Drug Delivery: A Review
by Fatima T. Zahra, Quincy Quick and Richard Mu
Polymers 2023, 15(18), 3837; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15183837 - 20 Sep 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1989
Abstract
Innovation in biomedical science is always a field of interest for researchers. Drug delivery, being one of the key areas of biomedical science, has gained considerable significance. The utilization of simple yet effective techniques such as electrospinning has undergone significant development in the [...] Read more.
Innovation in biomedical science is always a field of interest for researchers. Drug delivery, being one of the key areas of biomedical science, has gained considerable significance. The utilization of simple yet effective techniques such as electrospinning has undergone significant development in the field of drug delivery. Various polymers such as PEG (polyethylene glycol), PLGA (Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)), PLA(Polylactic acid), and PCA (poly(methacrylate citric acid)) have been utilized to prepare electrospinning-based drug delivery systems (DDSs). Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) has recently gained attention because of its biocompatibility, biodegradability, non-toxicity, and ideal mechanical properties as these are the key factors in developing DDSs. Moreover, it has shown promising results in developing DDSs individually and when combined with natural and synthetic polymers such as chitosan and polycaprolactone (PCL). Considering the outstanding properties of PVA, the aim of this review paper was therefore to summarize these recent advances by highlighting the potential of electrospun PVA for drug delivery systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Polymer-Based Drug Delivery Systems)
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