Stimuli-Responsive Polymers at the Interface with Biology

Biomacromolecules, vol. 25, pp. 5417–5436

Abstract

There has been growing interest in polymeric systems that break down or undergo property changes in response to stimuli. Such polymers can play important roles in biological systems, where they can be used to control the release of therapeutics, modulate imaging signals, actuate movement, or direct the growth of cells. In this Perspective, after discussing the most important stimuli relevant to biological applications, we will present a selection of recent exciting developments. The growing importance of stimuli-responsive polysaccharides will be discussed, followed by a variety of stimuli-responsive polymeric systems for the delivery of small molecule drugs and nucleic acids. Switchable polymers for the emerging area of therapeutic response measurement in theranostics will be described. Then, the diverse functions that can be achieved using hydrogels cross-linked covalently, as well as by various dynamic approaches will be presented. Finally, we will discuss some of the challenges and future perspectives for the field.

Authors 8

1. Nathan R. B. Boase

   Queensland University of Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   Centre for Materials Science and School of Chemistry and Physics, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia

2. Elizabeth R. Gillies corresponding

   Western University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Chemistry; Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada

   Department of Chemistry

3. Rubayn Zhi Rong Goh

   Agency for Science, Technology and Research · Institute of Materials Research and Engineering

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 2 Fusionopolis Way, Singapore 138634, Singapore

4. Roxanne E. Kieltyka Aachen Department of Supramolecular and Biomaterials Chemistry

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Supramolecular and Biomaterials Chemistry, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, PO Box 9502, Leiden 2300 RA, The Netherlands

5. John B. Matson

   Virginia Tech

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Chemistry and Macromolecules Innovation Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States

6. Fenghua Meng

   Soochow University · State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection

   Affiliation as printed

   Biomedical Polymers Laboratory, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, and State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, P. R. China

7. Amitav Sanyal

   Boğaziçi University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Chemistry and Center for Life Sciences and Technologies, Bogazici University, Bebek, 34342 Istanbul, Türkiye

8. Ondřej Sedláček

   Charles University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Physical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, 128 00 Prague 2, Czech Republic