Stimuli-sensitive polymer prodrug nanocarriers by reversible-deactivation radical polymerization

• Published in: Chemical Society reviews 2024-06, Vol.53 (12), p.6511-6567
• Main Authors: Guerassimoff, Léa, Ferrere, Marianne, Bossion, Amaury, Nicolas, Julien
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological effects; Chemical properties; Chemical Sciences; Chemical synthesis; Chemistry; Deactivation; Drug Carriers - chemistry; Drug Liberation; Drugs; Free Radicals - chemistry; Humans; Medicinal Chemistry; Molecular structure; Nanoparticles - chemistry; Polymerization; Polymers; Polymers - chemical synthesis; Polymers - chemistry; Prodrugs - chemical synthesis; Prodrugs - chemistry; Prodrugs - pharmacology; Stimuli
• ISSN: 0306-0012; 1460-4744; 1460-4744
• DOI: 10.1039/d2cs01060g

Polymer prodrugs are based on the covalent linkage of therapeutic molecules to a polymer structure which avoids the problems and limitations commonly encountered with traditional drug-loaded nanocarriers in which drugs are just physically entrapped ( e.g. , burst release, poor drug loadings). In the past few years, reversible-deactivation radical polymerization (RDRP) techniques have been extensively used to design tailor-made polymer prodrug nanocarriers. This synthesis strategy has received a lot of attention due to the possibility of fine tuning their structural parameters ( e.g. , polymer nature and macromolecular characteristics, linker nature, physico-chemical properties, functionalization, etc. ), to achieve optimized drug delivery and therapeutic efficacy. In particular, adjusting the nature of the drug-polymer linker has enabled the easy synthesis of stimuli-responsive polymer prodrugs for efficient spatiotemporal drug release. In this context, this review article will give an overview of the different stimuli-sensitive polymer prodrug structures designed by RDRP techniques, with a strong focus on the synthesis strategies, the macromolecular architectures and in particular the drug-polymer linker, which governs the drug release kinetics and eventually the therapeutic effect. Their biological evaluations will also be discussed. An overview of stimuli-sensitive polymer prodrugs designed by RDRP techniques is presented, focusing on the synthesis strategies, the macromolecular architectures and especially the drug-polymer linkers, which govern drug release kinetics and therapeutic effect.