Nanogel: A Versatile Nano-Delivery System for Biomedical Applications

Abstract

Nanogel-based nanoplatforms have become a tremendously promising system of drug delivery. Nanogels constructed by chemical crosslinking or physical self-assembly exhibit the ability to encapsulate hydrophilic or hydrophobic therapeutics, including but not limited to small-molecule compounds and proteins, DNA/RNA sequences, and even ultrasmall nanoparticles, within their 3D polymer network. The nanosized nature of the carriers endows them with a specific surface area and inner space, increasing the stability of loaded drugs and prolonging their circulation time. Reactions or the cleavage of chemical bonds in the structure of drug-loaded nanogels have been shown to trigger the controlled or sustained drug release. Through the design of specific chemical structures and different methods of production, nanogels can realize diverse responsiveness (temperature-sensitive, pH-sensitive and redox-sensitive), and enable the stimuli-responsive release of drugs in the microenvironments of various diseases. To improve therapeutic outcomes and increase the precision of therapy, nanogels can be modified by specific ligands to achieve active targeting and enhance the drug accumulation in disease sites. Moreover, the biomembrane-camouflaged nanogels exhibit additional intelligent targeted delivery features. Consequently, the targeted delivery of therapeutic agents, as well as the combinational therapy strategy, result in the improved efficacy of disease treatments, though the introduction of a multifunctional nanogel-based drug delivery system.

Strategies in the delivery of Cas9 ribonucleoprotein for CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing

“…Nanogels are submicron hydrogels with three-dimensional networks through physical or chemical crosslinking. Owing to their stability, high loading capacity, stimuli responsiveness and biocompatibility, nanogels are promising platform for drug delivery, diagnostics, and catalysis 224 , 225 . A non-cationic DNA-crosslinked and Cas9 RNP-embedded nanogel was proposed by Zhang et al for intracellular Cas9 RNP delivery 226 .…”

Smart Nanomaterials for Biomedical Applications—A Review

“…Most common redox-responsive agents for controlled drug release applications are thiol groups, platin conjugation, and thioether, disulfide, or diselenide bonds. Polymers with disulfide groups degrade in a reducing media such as cysteine or GSH [98][99][100].…”

Thermoresponsive Nanogels Based on Different Polymeric Moieties for Biomedical Applications

“…Nanogels are three-dimensional (3D) structures that are able to swell several times their non-swollen form [ 44 , 45 ]. Nanogels are nanostructured hydrogels with the advantages of both nanostructured materials and hydrogels.…”