Polymeric micelles as drug delivery vehicles (original) (raw)

Abstract

Though much progress has been made in drug delivery systems, the design of a suitable carrier for the delivery of hydrophobic drugs is still a major challenge for researchers. The use of micellar solutions of low molecular weight surfactants has been one of the popular methods for the solubilization of hydrophobic drugs; however, such surfactants suffer from high critical micelle concentration and concomitant low stabilities. In contrast to surfactants of low molecular masses, polymeric micelles are associated with general advantages like higher stability, tailorability, greater cargo capacity, non-toxicity and controlled drug release. Therefore, the current review article is focused on the engineering of the core of polymeric micelles for maximum therapeutic effect. For enhanced drug encapsulation capacity and getting useful insights into the controlled release mechanism we have reviewed the effects of temperature and pH on responsive polymeric micelles. The article also presents important research outcomes about mixed polymeric micelles as better drug carriers in comparison to single polymeric micelles.

Graphical abstract: Polymeric micelles as drug delivery vehicles

This article is part of the themed collections:Drug delivery and Chemistry for Medicine: Special Collection for RSC Advances

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Article information

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1039/C3RA47370H

Article type

Review Article

Submitted

15 Jan 2014

Accepted

29 Mar 2014

First published

31 Mar 2014

Download Citation

RSC Adv., 2014,4, 17028-17038

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