| Popis: |
The engineering of biocompatible, specific and effective nanostructured systems is still a challenge in the biomedical field. Polymeric nanoparticles have shown to be a potential platform for drug delivery, medical imaging, and simultaneous delivery and diagnosis. Polyurethanes have focused growing interest due to their synthetic versatility, excellent mechanical properties and good biocompatibility. Herein, we have reviewed the main synthetic methods to obtain nanoparticles with special attention to the polymerization in nano-emulsion medium, and their application as drug delivery systems, diagnosis and theranostic tools, especially for cancer treatment. Although important advances have been reported, polyurethane nanoparticles will have to overcome the current limitations in the biomedical field including drug solubilization, targeting specificity, therapeutic dosage, biosafety profile, ability to cross biological barriers and effectiveness when administered orally. |
