Smart polymers in drug delivery

Abstract

Smart polymers or stimuli-responsive polymers typically change their physical properties and/or structure in response to relatively minor changes in the stimulus. Changes in the environment that affect polymer properties can be called as the stimuli, while the resulting changes in the polymer and the system (such as dissolved state of the polymer in a solvent) has been termed as the response. The changes in the environment that have been exploited for biopharmaceutical applications are exemplified by pH, ionic strength, temperature, light, and magnetic or electric field. This chapter will highlight most popular smart polymers used in drug delivery.