PNIPAM Poly (N-isopropylacrylamide): A Thermoresponsive “Smart” Polymer in Novel Drug Delivery Systems

Received: December 20, 2011
Accepted: March 13, 2012
Ref: Kokardekar RR, Shah VK, Mody HR. PNIPAM Poly (N-isopropylacrylamide): A Thermoresponsive “Smart” Polymer in Novel Drug Delivery Systems. Internet J Med Update. 2012 Jul;7(2):60-63.

PNIPAM POLY (N-ISOPROPYLACRYLAMIDE): A THERMORESPONSIVE “SMART” POLYMER IN NOVEL DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS

Rashmi R Kokardekar*, Vaibhav K Shah** and Hardik R Mody***

*Dr. L H Hiranandani College of pharmacy, University of Mumbai, Ulhasnagar, Maharashtra, India
**Department of Biotechnology, Viva College, University of Mumbai, Virar (W), Vasai, Thane, Maharashtra, India
***Department of Pharmaceutical & Biomedical Sciences, The University of Georgia College of Pharmacy, GA, USA

(Corresponding Author: Mr. Hardik R Mody, Department of Pharmaceutical & Biomedical Sciences, The University of Georgia College of Pharmacy, GA, USA; Tel: 0017062472481; Email: hardik@uga.edu)

ABSTRACT

Over the past years, extensive research has been carried out in designing and optimizing various drug delivery systems in order to maximize therapeutic effect and minimize unwanted effects of drugs. Many drug carrier systems have been developed on the basis of nanotechnology including systems based on polymeric nanoparticles. Polymeric drug delivery research has been extended to targeting of the drug at the specific site by utilizing various stimuli responsive systems which depend upon physiological conditions of the body such as pH of biological fluids and temperature of the human body. Thermoresponsive polymers with Lower Critical Solution Temperature (LCST) have been investigated for various biomedical and pharmaceutical formulations. One such polymer of considerable focus is PNIPAM Poly (N-isopropylacrylamide). PNIPAM is a thermosensitive polymer which has been utilized in many drug delivery systems including for cancer therapeutics. The present article deals with the properties of PNIPAM and their applications in different drug delivery systems.

KEY WORDS: PNIPAM; LCST; Properties; Synthesis; Applications

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