Temperature is a widely incorporated stimulus in pharmaceutical applications because of its efficiency as a therapeutic medium; thus, substantial evidence on temperature‐responsive polymer applications is reported. Poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) is a well‐established, temperature‐responsive polymer that exhibits a low critical solution temperature (LCST) at ≈ 32°C, which is close to physiological temperature. Hence, they are widely used in various pharmaceutical applications, such as drug delivery with nanocarriers and thermogels. Varying the LCST for different applications can be achieved by copolymerization with other hydrophobic or hydrophilic molecules, making it a favorable smart polymer. PNIPAAm is reported to enhance drug delivery by incorporation with nanocarriers and to facilitate prolonged drug delivery, thereby avoiding the burst release of drugs in temperature‐responsive hydrogels. The application of PNIPAAm is not limited to drug delivery, and it is also applied in biomedical applications such as chromatography systems and cell culture applications, where its incorporation in cell culture media enhances cell production. The unique and versatile properties of PNIPAAm render it a promising smart polymer for various functional applications. Hence, this review focuses on the diverse applications of PNIPAAm.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
In the last decade, nanoparticle‐based therapeutic modalities have emerged as promising treatment options for cancer and infectious diseases. To improve prognosis, chemotherapeutic and antimicrobial drugs must be delivered selectively to the target sites. Researchers have increasingly focused their efforts on improving drug delivery, with a particular emphasis on cancer and infectious diseases. When drugs are administered systemically, they become diluted and can diffuse to all tissues but only until the immune system intervenes and quickly removes them from circulation. To enhance and prolong the systemic circulation of drugs, nanocarriers have been explored and used; however, nanocarriers have a major drawback in that they can trigger immune responses. Numerous nanocarriers for optimal drug delivery have been developed using innovative and effective biointerface technologies. Autologous cell‐derived drug carriers, such as outer membrane vesicles (OMVs), have demonstrated improved bioavailability and reduced toxicity. Thus, this study investigates the use of biomimetic OMVs as biomimetic vaccine carriers against infections and cancers to improve our understanding in the field of nanotechnology. In addition, discussion on the advantages, disadvantages, and future prospects of OMVs will also be explored.
This article is categorized under:
Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease
Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Infectious Disease
Biology‐Inspired Nanomaterials > Protein and Virus‐Based Structures
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