Design of multifunctional nanogels with intelligent behavior

RIMONDINO, GUIDO; BIGLIONE, CATALINA; MARTINELLI, MARISA; ALVAREZ IGARZABAL, CECILIA I.; STRUMIA MIRIAM

Polymer Gels: Science and Fundamentals

Springer Publisher

Año: 2018;

The design of polymeric nanogels with new properties represents a field of constant interest for both, the research fields and pharmaceutical and biomedical industry, due to their dimensional structure, mechanical properties, high water content and biocompatibility. For their application properties, they conform an excellent option for tissue engineering, diagnostic agents, immobilization cell, separation of biomolecules or cells, implants biomedical and theranostic. Owing to impressive progress in material and pharmaceutic science, a broad range of nanogels with diverse size, architecture and surface properties have been designed. The size of nanoscale for these nanocarriers allows systemic (intravenous) or local (mucosal) administration, and promotes their diffusion within the cell. Moreover, surface functionalization methodologies can impart to the nanocarriers the ability to control the pharmacokinetic and bio distribution.In the recent years, the interest in intelligent nanogels has been increased since they are capable to regulate the behavior in response to physical, chemical and biological external stimuli. The different methods of synthesis of nanogels and the structure/properties ratio to find intelligent behavior and novel application properties will be described and discussed in this chapter. We will present the most significant progress reached in the last years in the field of stimuli-responsive drug-delivery nanocarriers.