New Polymers as Nanovehicles for Several Therapeutic Applications: Current Advances and Future Perspectives
A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Smart and Functional Polymers".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 April 2023) | Viewed by 1857
Special Issue Editors
2. LAQV-REQUIMTE, Galenic and Pharmaceutical Technology Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
Interests: polymeric micelles; micelleplexes; controlled release; gene therapy; cancer; nanotechnology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: nanomedicine; polymer micelles; cancer therapy; gene delivery; NMR spectroscopy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Pluronics® are a class of amphiphilic tri-block copolymers with wide pharmaceutical applicability. Composed of a hydrophobic poly(propylene oxide) core flanked by hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) chains (PEOn–PPOm–PEOn ), they are available in a range of molecular weights and PPO/PEO chain lengths and ratios, which are responsible for their unique physicochemical and biological properties. The capacity to self-aggregate into a variety of thermodynamically stable supramolecular structures led to the formation of biocompatible nanosized particles and is exploited to improve the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles of different small molecular drugs used in different therapeutics. Due to the great potential for tuning physical and structural properties by chemical modifications, a panoply of functionalized drug-loaded nanovehicles can be prepared and tested in various in vitro and in vivo models. Additionally, some Pluronics® can interact with cell membranes and affect important cellular functions, potentially contributing to the effects of therapeutic load. In spite of this, the extraordinary complexity of biological challenges in the delivery of micellar drug payload makes their therapeutic potential still not exploited to the fullest.
We invite investigators to contribute with the submission of original research articles as well as review articles in order to explore new materials such as amphiphilic tri-block copolymers as Pluronics and modalities to produce effective nanovehicles for several applications in in vitro and in vivo studies in the pharmaceutical field.
Prof. Dr. Ana Figueiras
Dr. Ivana Jarak
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- pluronics
- nanovehicles
- amphiphilic block copolymers
- therapeutic applications
- in vitro and in vivo studies
