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Review
. 2021 Nov 11;14(22):6812.
doi: 10.3390/ma14226812.

Polymer-Based Nanosystems-A Versatile Delivery Approach

Adelina-Gabriela Niculescu  1 , Alexandru Mihai Grumezescu  1   2   3
Affiliations
Review

Polymer-Based Nanosystems-A Versatile Delivery Approach

Adelina-Gabriela Niculescu et al. Materials (Basel). .

Abstract

Polymer-based nanoparticles of tailored size, morphology, and surface properties have attracted increasing attention as carriers for drugs, biomolecules, and genes. By protecting the payload from degradation and maintaining sustained and controlled release of the drug, polymeric nanoparticles can reduce drug clearance, increase their cargo's stability and solubility, prolong its half-life, and ensure optimal concentration at the target site. The inherent immunomodulatory properties of specific polymer nanoparticles, coupled with their drug encapsulation ability, have raised particular interest in vaccine delivery. This paper aims to review current and emerging drug delivery applications of both branched and linear, natural, and synthetic polymer nanostructures, focusing on their role in vaccine development.

Keywords: drug delivery; novel nanocarriers; polymer-based nanoparticles; targeted delivery; vaccine adjuvants; vaccine delivery.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Polymer classification. Created based on information from literature references [11,21,22].
Figure 2
Figure 2
Schematic representation of nanosphere and nanocapsule drug association possibilities. Created based on information from literature references [172,173,174].
Figure 3
Figure 3
Schematic representation of several polymer nanoparticles synthesis methods: (a) solvent evaporation method; (b) emulsification/reverse salting-out method; (c) emulsification/solvent diffusion method; (d) nanoprecipitation method. Reprinted from an open-access source [172].
Figure 4
Figure 4
Visual representation of antimicrobial resistance mechanisms (left) and antimicrobial activity of nanoparticles (right). Reprinted from an open-access source [173].
Figure 5
Figure 5
(a) Mechanism of action of pH-responsive polymer NPs, decorated with targeting ligand folic acid (FA) and with doxorubicin, bound via a hydrazone bond to diblock copolymer PEG-PCL. (b) Mechanism of action of redox-responsive polymer NPs with bonded paciltaxel via a disulfide linker to diblock copolymer PEG-b-PHEMA. Adapted from an open-access source [22].
Figure 6
Figure 6
(a) Schematic representation of radiolabeled nanoparticles; (b) Chemical structure of Ru1. Reprinted from an open-access source [268].
Figure 7
Figure 7
Advantages of polymer-based nanovaccines. Created based on information from literature references [11,18,154,284].
Figure 8
Figure 8
Activation of adaptive immunity by nanovaccines: uptake and presentation of antigenic subunit by APCs elicit cell-mediated and antibody-mediated immune response, leading to apoptosis of infected cells and phagocytosis of antibody–pathogen complex. Reprinted from an open-access source [18].
Figure 9
Figure 9
Schematic representation of OVA-loaded surface cationic polymer modified AHPP/OVA nanoparticles. Reprinted from an open-access source [317].
Figure 10
Figure 10
Schematic representation of chitosan-based nanocapsules for transcutaneous antigen delivery. Reprinted from an open-access source [321].
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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