Copolymer Micelles: A Focus on Recent Advances for Stimulus-Responsive Delivery of Proteins and Peptides

Abstract

Historically used for the delivery of hydrophobic drugs through core encapsulation, amphiphilic copolymer micelles have also more recently appeared as potent nano-systems to deliver protein and peptide therapeutics. In addition to ease and reproducibility of preparation, micelles are chemically versatile as hydrophobic/hydrophilic segments can be tuned to afford protein immobilization through different approaches, including non-covalent interactions (e.g., electrostatic, hydrophobic) and covalent conjugation, while generally maintaining protein biological activity. Similar to many other drugs, protein/peptide delivery is increasingly focused on stimuli-responsive nano-systems able to afford triggered and controlled release in time and space, thereby improving therapeutic efficacy and limiting side effects. This short review discusses advances in the design of such micelles over the past decade, with an emphasis on stimuli-responsive properties for optimized protein/peptide delivery.

Tumor Microenvironment-Responsive Drug Delivery Based on Polymeric Micelles for Precision Cancer Therapy: Strategies and Prospects

“…Stimulus-responsive micelles are highly preferred for this approach due to their desirable features. They can interact well with the site of action cells and respond to the surrounding tumor microenvironments, such as through changes in pH, enzymes, or redox [28]. The mainstream strategies for TMEresponsive drug delivery are summarized as shown in Figure 1.…”

Polysaccharides as a Hydrophilic Building Block of Amphiphilic Block Copolymers for the Conception of Nanocarriers

“…The stealth effect, which is the guarantee of long circulation, significantly enhances the pharmacokinetics, including blood circulation, biodistribution, and tissue targeting, thereby allowing for drug delivery applications of nanomaterials [ 9 ]. Various nanocarriers have been developed to encapsulate drugs, including nanoparticles [ 10 , 11 ], nanogels [ 12 ], liposomes [ 13 ], and micelles [ 14 ] prepared from lipids, polymers, and inorganic materials. In this way, drug delivery systems could reduce the side effects of drugs and improve treatment efficiency.…”

New homopolymers and copolymers based on 5-succinyl cyclooctene and mono-substituted ethylene glycols

“…1–5 Because of their properties, amphiphilic block copolymers have been applied in a wide variety of areas, such as fabrication of templates, 6,7 membranes, 8,9 anti-fouling coatings, 10–12 drug delivery, 13–15 and protein immobilization. 16,17…”