Engineered polymeric materials for biological applications: Overcoming challenges of the bio-nano interface

Abstract

Nanomedicine has generated significant interest as an alternative to conventional cancer therapy due to the ability for nanoparticles to tune cargo release. However, while nanoparticle technology has promised significant benefit, there are still limited examples of nanoparticles in clinical practice. The low translational success of nanoparticle research is due to the series of biological roadblocks that nanoparticles must migrate to be effective, including blood and plasma interactions, clearance, extravasation, and tumor penetration, through to cellular targeting, internalization, and endosomal escape. It is important to consider these roadblocks holistically in order to design more effect..