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Research idea for efficient delivery of drug – Smart Polymer Vesicles

Usman Zafar Paracha 0 Comments , , , , ,

Smart polymer vesicles are increasingly gaining attraction as delivery vehicles for the treatment of anumber of diseases. They are thought to have more advantages than liposomes and polymer micelles.

Scientists are studying to optimize the vesicles to make them stimuli-responsive as the current limitations such as temperature, light, redox, etc., are among the major hurdles. These limitations are mostly external stimuli including both the chemical stimuli and physical stimuli.

(1) Chemical stimuli include “changes in pH, oxidation/reduction that may change polymer structure and accompanying unwanted deformation or leakage of polymer vesicles” while (2) physical stimuli include variation of temperature, light, electrical field, etc. We can work on minimizing the harmful effects of these stimuli on smart polymer vesicles.

You can see an example of the smart polymer vesicle for the efficient delivery of anticancer drug in the link present in reference.

Upon ultrasound radiation, the disruption and re-self-assembly lead to smaller vesicle. Upon decreasing the solution pH, the shrinkage of vesicles by the recrystallization of PTMA chains surpasses the swelling of vesicles by the partial protonation of DEA, leading to smaller vesicles. Further decreasing the solution pH will lead to the complete protonation of DEA and finally the disassembly of vesicles. Both ultrasound radiation and decreasing pH can lead to faster drug release (Credit: Scientific Reports)
Upon ultrasound radiation, the disruption and re-self-assembly lead to smaller vesicle. Upon decreasing the solution pH, the shrinkage of vesicles by the recrystallization of PTMA chains surpasses the swelling of vesicles by the partial protonation of DEA, leading to smaller vesicles. Further decreasing the solution pH will lead to the complete protonation of DEA and finally the disassembly of vesicles. Both ultrasound radiation and decreasing pH can lead to faster drug release (Credit: Scientific Reports)

Reference:

Wenqin Chen, Jianzhong Du (2013). Ultrasound and pH Dually Responsive Polymer Vesicles for Anticancer Drug Delivery Scientific Reports DOI: 10.1038/srep02162

Usman Zafar Paracha

Usman Zafar Paracha is a sort of entrepreneur. He is the author of "Color Atlas of Statistics", and the owner of an Android game "Faily Rocket."

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