Poly(DMAEMA-co-PPGMA): Dual-responsive “reversible” micelles

Recent Advances of Using Hybrid Nanocarriers in Remotely Controlled Therapeutic Delivery

The development of hybrid biomaterials has been attracting great attention in the design of materials for biomedicine. The nanosized level of inorganic and organic or even bioactive components can be combined into a single material by this approach, which has created entirely new advanced compositions with truly unique properties for drug delivery. The recent advances in using hybrid nanovehicles as remotely controlled therapeutic delivery carriers are summarized with respect to different nanostructures, including hybrid host-guest nanoconjugates, micelles, nanogels, core-shell nanoparticles, liposomes, mesoporous silica, and hollow nanoconstructions. In addition, the controlled release of guest molecules from these hybrid nanovehicles in response to various remote stimuli such as alternating magnetic field, near infrared, or ultrasound triggers is further summarized to introduce the different mechanisms of remotely triggered release behavior. Through proper chemical functionalization, the hybrid nanovehicle system can be further endowed with many new properties toward specific biomedical applications.

Nanomaterial mediated optogenetics: opportunities and challenges

This review elaborates on the possible applications of nanomaterials in optogenetics and analyses the benefits of nanomaterial-mediated optogenetics.

Small molecule therapeutic-loaded liposomes as therapeutic carriers: from development to clinical applications

In this review, various methods and mechanisms for encapsulation of small therapeutic molecules in liposomes for targeted delivery and triggered release, as well as their potential in the clinical uses, are discussed.

Utilising inorganic nanocarriers for gene delivery

The delivery of genetic materials into cells to elicit cellular response has been extensively studied by biomaterials scientists globally.

Synthesis of amphiphilic semigrafted pseudo-Pluronics for self-assemblies carrying indomethacin

Influence of PEG length and OPG grafting density on self-assembly, particle size, drug loading content and release rate has been verified.

Recent development of unimolecular micelles as functional materials and applications

Unimolecular micelles have high functionalities, encapsulation capabilities and site specific confinement abilities in various applications.

A shape memory copolymer based on 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate and methyl allyl polyethenoxy ether for potential biological applications

This study reports a novel shape memory copolymer synthesized with 2-(dimethylamino)-ethyl-methacrylate (DMAEMA) and methyl-allyl-polyethenoxy-ether (TPEG) for potential biological applications.

Water soluble well-defined acidic graft copolymers based on a poly(propylene glycol) macromonomer

A copolymers based on poly(propylene glycol) methacrylate (PPGMA) extended with a polymethacrylate segment containing methacrylic acid units was synthesized combining controlled radical polymerization, esterification, grafting from, and acidolysis.

Multi-arm carriers composed of an antioxidant lignin core and poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co-poly(ethylene glycol)methacrylate) derivative arms for highly efficient gene delivery

A lignin-based copolymer with good biocompability was successfully prepared via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) for efficient gene delivery.

Cationic star copolymers based on β-cyclodextrins for efficient gene delivery to mouse embryonic stem cell colonies

A cationic star copolymer with a β-cyclodextrin core was developed for nonviral gene transfer to mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs).

A thixotropic polyglycerol sebacate-based supramolecular hydrogel showing UCST behavior

Polyglycerol sebacate (PGS) is a relatively new biodegradable and elastomeric material that exhibits superior biocompatibility, a modulus that is comparable to human soft tissue, and linear biodegradation.

Engineering highly stretchable lignin-based electrospun nanofibers for potential biomedical applications

The incorporation of lignin–PMMA copolymers into PCL nanofibers significantly improved the mechanical properties and biocompatibility of the nanofibrous composites.

Unusual thermogelling behaviour of poly[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] (PDMAEMA)-based polymers polymerized in bulk

The bulk synthesis of (PDMAEMA)-based polymers and their unusual thermoreversible gelation in aqueous solutions are described.

Multi-functional fluorescent carbon dots with antibacterial and gene delivery properties

Dual-functionality carbon dots with both anti-microbial and gene transfection abilities were developed and their properties elaborated in this paper.

Biodegradable thermogelling polymers: working towards clinical applications

As society ages, aging medical problems such as organ damage or failure among senior citizens increases, raising the demand for organ repair technologies. Synthetic materials have been developed and applied in various parts of human body to meet the biomedical needs. Hydrogels, in particular, have found extensive applications as wound healing, drug delivery and controlled release, and scaffold materials in the human body. The development of the next generation of soft hydrogel biomaterials focuses on facile synthetic methods, efficacy of treatment, and tunable multi-functionalities for applications. Supramolecular 3D entities are highly attractive materials for biomedical application. They are assembled by modules via various non-covalent bonds (hydrogen bonds, p-p stacking and/or van der Waals interactions). Biodegradable thermogels are a class of such supramolecular assembled materials. Their use as soft biomaterials and their related applications are described in this Review.