Polymer Based Nanocarriers: A Promising Platform for Targeted Drug Delivery

Abstract

Polymer-based nanocarriers have revolutionized modern drug delivery by offering precise control over therapeutic release, enhanced bioavailability, and reduced off-target effects. Owing to their tunable physicochemical properties, biocompatibility, and structural versatility, these nanocarriers provide an adaptable platform for the delivery of a wide range of drugs, including small molecules, peptides, and nucleic acids. Various polymeric systems such as micelles, dendrimers, nanogels, and polymeric nanoparticles have been designed to respond to specific biological or environmental stimuli, including pH, temperature, redox potential, and enzymatic activity, thereby ensuring site-specific and controlled drug release. Both natural (e.g., chitosan, alginate, gelatin) and synthetic (e.g., PEG, PLGA, polylactic acid) polymers have been explored to fabricate nanocarriers with desirable mechanical strength, degradation profiles, and surface functionality. However, despite these advances, challenges related to large-scale synthesis, reproducibility, stability, and long-term safety remain key hurdles for clinical translation.