Advances in Molecularly Imprinted Polymers as Drug Delivery Systems

Abstract

Despite the tremendous efforts made in the past decades, severe side/toxic effects and poor bioavailability still represent the main challenges that hinder the clinical translation of drug molecules. This has turned the attention of investigators towards drug delivery vehicles that provide a localized and controlled drug delivery. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) as novel and versatile drug delivery vehicles have been widely studied in recent years due to the advantages of selective recognition, enhanced drug loading, sustained release, and robustness in harsh conditions. This review highlights the design and development of strategies undertaken for MIPs used as drug delivery vehicles involving different drug delivery mechanisms, such as rate-programmed, stimuli-responsive and active targeting, published during the course of the past five years.

The Evolution of Molecular Recognition: From Antibodies to Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIPs) as Artificial Counterpart

“…Another very interesting approach to prepare MIP-based TDDSs is represented by double imprinting in which both the drug and the targeting agent are used simultaneously as templates. Double-imprinted polymers, indeed, are able to protect the therapeutic agent, prolong its release profile and, at the same time, to localize the drug delivery to the desired site improving the therapeutic profile and, thus, the therapeutic effects [ 174 ].…”

Fighting Antibiotic‐Resistant Bacteria: Promising Strategies Orchestrated by Molecularly Imprinted Polymers

“…MIPs as ad rug delivery device was first proposed by Nichols and co-workers and dates back to 1998; [51] consequently,t he MIP literature abounds with MIPs as drugreleasing carriers, [52][53][54][55][56][57] mostly of cancer drugs and to al esser extent, of antibiotics. [58,59] Since many reviews [52][53][54][55][56] already exist, we will not put much emphasis on this topic;o ne relevant example of targeted drug delivery will, however,b e described (Section 5.4.3).…”

“…MIPs as ad rug delivery device was first proposed by Nichols and co-workers and dates back to 1998; [51] consequently,t he MIP literature abounds with MIPs as drugreleasing carriers, [52][53][54][55][56][57] mostly of cancer drugs and to al esser extent, of antibiotics. [58,59] Since many reviews [52][53][54][55][56] already exist, we will not put much emphasis on this topic;o ne relevant example of targeted drug delivery will, however,b e described (Section 5.4.3). Instead, we will provide the reader with the newest and original approaches to fight resistant bacteria with MIPs,for example by sequestering b-lactamase, quorum-sensing messengers,and molecules of the EPS matrix which sustain biofilm growth.…”

Highly selective water-compatible molecularly imprinted polymers for benzophenone-4

“…Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are smart synthetic materials which can be used for several applications: [1][2][3][4] as sorbents for solid phase extraction (SPE), [5][6][7][8][9] as stationary phase for chromatography, [10][11][12][13][14][15] as sensors, [16][17][18] artificial enzymes, [19][20][21] as systems for controlled drug delivery and release, [22][23][24] etc. Molecular imprinting technology (MIT) is based on interactions between template molecule and functional monomer in the presence of porogen.…”