Multifunctional polymeric micelles as therapeutic nanostructures: Targeting, imaging, and triggered release

Various drug delivery systems have currently been developed or are under development to minimize drug loss and to increase the fraction of the drug accumulated in the targeted site. Polymeric micelles possess many advantages as drug delivery vehicles, for example, nanometer-scale size, controlled composition, structural flexibility, and capacity to encapsulate a wide range of drug molecules. Polymeric micelles with responsive features have demonstrated superb performances as therapeutic nanostructures. Polymeric micelles with new functionality can be easily designed in order to enhance the efficacy of many therapeutic and diagnostic features. This chapter will address the current status and possible future direction of the rapidly emerging field of multifunctional nanocarriers based on micelles of different block copolymer with controlled loading, targeting, imaging, and triggered release.