Hyperbranched Polymers as Nanocarriers

Abstract

Hyperbranched polymers (HBPs) have shown widespread academic and commercial success in the preparation of films and novel materials, and now are emerging into the biomedical research space as nanocarriers for use in drug delivery and diagnostics. HBPs exhibit ideal sizes for delivery in vivo , have well‐established chemistries for their synthesis, as well as offering multiple methods of incorporation of a variety of targeting, therapeutic, and diagnostic moieties. By choice of material and functionality, their biostability or biodegradability can be fine‐tuned for multistaged or time‐delayed release of therapeutics. With significant advances in the development of nanomedicines, in particular chemistries surrounding biomolecule conjugation and the evolution of imaging techniques, the multimodal capabilities of HBPs combined with facile and controlled synthetic engineering of HBPs have resulted in properties that are ideal for their application as nanocarriers. While HBP nanocarriers offer limitless synthetic opportunity, to address the many biological challenges that are now well‐established in nanotherapeutics, new approaches to how HBPs are designed are required. This overview aims to address the points that must be considered in the biologically driven nanomaterial design of HBP nanocarriers.

Nanoparticle based medicines: approaches for evading and manipulating the mononuclear phagocyte system and potential for clinical translation

“…3,15,61,90 These nanoparticles can be self-assembled, as in the case of liposomes, micelles, and polymersomes, 15,91 or synthesised as distinct units with controllable architecture, such as HBPs or dendrimers. 74,87,92–95 Observations of biodistribution have provided insight on nanoparticle design to evade MPS clearance and improve therapeutic delivery. 51,73,96 However, the MPS still poses a challenge to optimal biodistribution.…”

“…1 Modulation of the MPS considerably improves the tumour localisation relative to the injected dose and thus improves therapeutic response compared to nanoparticles alone (Table 3). 94 We believe that in balancing longitudinal patient outcomes with nanomedicine efficacy, the primary target moving forward should become transient, as opposed to permanent blocking, 95 of circulating and tissue resident macrophages via pharmacological inhibition of endocytosis or dysregulation of phagocytic cell functions (Fig. 5).…”