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Review
. 2017 Dec;9(6):931-940.
doi: 10.1007/s12551-017-0341-z. Epub 2017 Nov 25.

Stimuli-responsive nanocarriers for intracellular delivery

Lemmuel L Tayo  1
Affiliations
Review

Stimuli-responsive nanocarriers for intracellular delivery

Lemmuel L Tayo. Biophys Rev. 2017 Dec.

Abstract

The emergence of different nanoparticles (NPs) has made a significant revolution in the field of medicine. Different NPs in the form of metallic NPs, dendrimers, polymeric NPs, carbon quantum dots and liposomes have been functionalized and used as platforms for intracellular delivery of biomolecules, drugs, imaging agents and nucleic acids. These NPs are designed to improve the pharmacokinetic properties of the drug, improve their bioavailability and successfully surpass physiological or pathological obstacles in the biological system so that therapeutic efficacy is achieved. In this review I present some of the current approaches used in intracellular delivery systems, with a focus on various stimuli-responsive nanocarriers, including cell-penetrating peptides, to highlight their various biomedical applications.

Keywords: Drug delivery; Intelligent materials; Nanocarrier; Nanomedicine; Stimuli-responsive.

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Conflict of interest statement

Lemmuel L. Tayo declares that he has no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Representation of the various nanoparticle (NP) platforms used for intracellular delivery
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Representation of the various stimuli-responsive systems utilized in the construction of NPs for biomedical applications. a Redox-responsive, b temperature-responsive, c pH-responsive, d photo-responsive, e ultrasound-responsive. GSH Glutathione, T temperature, LCST lower critical solution temperature, GSH
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