Photoresponsive polymeric materials for drug delivery systems: Double targeting with photo-responsive polymers

Abstract

Photoresponsive polymeric materials are promising not only for cell-targeting in vivo, but also for intracellular navigations such as the internalization, the endosomal escape, and the nuclear import. Furthermore, the controlled release as well as the activation of drugs is caused by the photoresponsive delivery. Finally, such photoresponsive polymeric system can pave the way for double targeting of drugs resulting in temporal and spatial delivery. The photoresponsive synchronization of biocompatible materials and novel photo-irradiating apparatus might bring a various happiness to the refractory patients in near future. © 2008, THE JAPAN SOCIETY OF DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM. All rights reserved.