Polymeric Drug Delivery Systems Bearing Cholesterol Moieties: A Review

Abstract

This review aims to provide an overview of polymers comprising cholesterol moiety/ies designed to be used in drug delivery. Over the last two decades, there have been many papers published in this field, which are summarized in this review. The primary focus of this article is on the methods of synthesis of polymers bearing cholesterol in the main chain or as side chains. The data related to the composition, molecular weight, and molecular weight distribution of polymers are presented. Moreover, other aspects, such as forms of carriers, types of encapsulated drugs, encapsulation efficiency and capacity, are also included.

An effective antimicrobial complex of nanoscale β-cyclodextrin and ciprofloxacin conjugated to a cell adhesive dipeptide

“…Moreover, nanocarriers exhibit more therapy advantages with low dosages of drugs, and low doses of the drug delivery to the target cell could be faster and more controlled. 61 As mentioned in this literature, β-CD is ideal for drug delivery, and the drug loading mechanism improves cargo's bioavailability, solubility, and stability. Also, peptides are regarded as very effective and safe methods that do not damage the integrity of the cellular membrane.…”

Steroid-Based Liquid Crystalline Polymers: Responsive and Biocompatible Materials of the Future

“…Steroid-based liquid crystal polymers and co-polymers is a rapidly developing area of research with applications in a variety of fields. There are few reviews available on the topic of steroid-based polymers discussing the relevant chemical aspects and self-assembly capabilities [69,[102][103][104]. In this review, cholesterol and related sterol-based polymers are described and their structure-property relationship is discussed, with particular emphasis on their liquid crystalline properties and their potential benefit in applications.…”

Self-assembled PHEA-based block copolymers for the synthesis of gold nanoparticles

“…1,2 Cholesterol and cholic acid have been incorporated into many polymeric systems and used in biomedical applications, such as drug delivery, antimicrobial agents, protein recognition, cell imaging, and vaccines. [3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Cholesterol forms part of the animal cell membranes and is a precursor for the synthesis of bile salts, sex hormones, and vitamin D. Moreover, its functions in the human body are to build and repair cell membranes, and control/modify the fluidity and permeability of the membrane. 3 Cholesterol is a critical component of the lipid layer of several liposomal systems approved by the FDA, for instance, the liposomal formulation of the COVID-19 vaccines.…”