On the advancement of polymeric bicontinuous nanospheres toward biomedical applications

Nanoscale Horiz. 2019 Mar 1;4(2):258-272. doi: 10.1039/c8nh00300a. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

Abstract

Self-assembled soft nanocarriers that are capable of simultaneous encapsulation of both lipophilic and water soluble payloads have significantly enhanced controlled delivery applications in biomedicine. These nanoarchitectures, such as liposomes, polymersomes and cubosomes, are primarily composed of either amphiphilic polymers or lipids, with the polymeric variants generally possessing greater stability and control over biodistribution and bioresponsive release. Polymersomes have long demonstrated such advantages over their lipid analogs, liposomes, but only recently have bicontinuous nanospheres emerged as a polymeric cubic phase alternative to lipid cubosomes. In this review, we summarize the current state of the field for bicontinuous nanosphere formulation and characterization and suggest future directions for this nascent delivery platform as it is adopted for biomedical applications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Drug Carriers / chemistry*
  • Drug Carriers / metabolism
  • Drug Carriers / pharmacokinetics
  • Drug Liberation
  • Nanospheres / chemistry*
  • Nanospheres / metabolism
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Polymers / metabolism
  • Polymers / pharmacokinetics
  • Tissue Distribution

Substances

  • Drug Carriers
  • Polymers