Sutradhar Sabuj Chandra, Banik Nipa, Bari Gazi A K M Rafiqul, Jeong Jae-Ho
Department of Energy Materials Science and Engineering, Konkuk University, 268 Chungwon-aero, Chungju-si 27478, Republic of Korea.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Gachon University, 1342 Seongnam-daero, Sujeong-gu, Seongnam-si 13120, Republic of Korea.
Gels. 2025 Sep 22;11(9):761. doi: 10.3390/gels11090761.
Polymer network-based nanogels (NGs) and microgels (MGs) have emerged as highly versatile platforms for advanced drug delivery, owing to their tunable architecture, biocompatibility, and responsiveness to diverse stimuli. This review presents a comprehensive and structured analysis of NG/MGs, encompassing their classification based on polymer origin, crosslinking mechanisms, composition, charge, stimuli-responsiveness, and structural architecture. We detail synthesis strategies-including inverse microemulsion and radiation-induced polymerization-and highlight key characterization techniques essential for evaluating physicochemical and functional properties. Emphasis is placed on the design-driven applications of NG/MGs in overcoming biological barriers and enabling targeted therapies, particularly in cancer, inflammation, diabetes, and viral infections. Multifunctional NGs integrating therapeutic and diagnostic capabilities (theranostics), as well as emerging platforms for immunotherapy and personalized medicine, are critically discussed. Finally, we address translational challenges and future directions, including scalable manufacturing, regulatory considerations, and integration with smart diagnostics. This review aims to serve as a foundational resource for researchers and clinicians developing next-generation NG/MG-based therapeutics.
基于聚合物网络的纳米凝胶(NGs)和微凝胶(MGs)已成为先进药物递送的高度通用平台,这得益于它们可调节的结构、生物相容性以及对多种刺激的响应性。本综述对NG/MGs进行了全面且结构化的分析,涵盖基于聚合物来源、交联机制、组成、电荷、刺激响应性和结构架构的分类。我们详细阐述了合成策略,包括反相微乳液和辐射诱导聚合,并强调了评估物理化学和功能特性所必需的关键表征技术。重点在于NG/MGs在克服生物屏障和实现靶向治疗方面的设计驱动应用,特别是在癌症、炎症、糖尿病和病毒感染方面。对整合治疗和诊断能力的多功能NGs(治疗诊断学)以及免疫治疗和个性化医学的新兴平台进行了批判性讨论。最后,我们探讨了转化挑战和未来方向,包括可扩展制造、监管考量以及与智能诊断的整合问题。本综述旨在为开发下一代基于NG/MG的治疗方法的研究人员和临床医生提供基础资源。