Biodegradable Polymer-Based Nanocarriers for Biomedical Applications
A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Applications".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 January 2026 | Viewed by 27
Special Issue Editor
Interests: polymers; nanomaterials; formulation; drug delivery systems (DDS); lipid nanoparticles (LNPs); organic-inorganic hybrid materials
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Biodegradable polymers are well-suited for a broad range of biomedical applications due to their biocompatibility and biodegradability. Both natural and synthetic biodegradable polymers containing hydrolytically or enzymatically cleavable bonds have been widely used as nanocarriers for drug and gene delivery and antifouling/antibacterial biomaterials, as well as in tissue engineering, diagnostic imaging, and medical devices. Biodegradable polymers break down into non-toxic byproducts and these can be naturally metabolized and cleared through normal physiological processes within the body, reducing patient risk. Biodegradable polymers can incorporate a diverse range of therapeutics through encapsulation or chemical conjugation, protecting the drugs from degradation and enhancing their stability and bioavailability, while reducing cytotoxicity through targeted delivery, thereby amplifying their therapeutic efficacy. The chemical versatility and nanoscale dimensions of biodegradable polymer-based nanocarriers enable enhanced circulation times and efficient transport across various biological barriers. These features, coupled with the possibility of functionalization for active targeting, make them ideal candidates for smart drug delivery systems. The application of new techniques to engineer biodegradable polymers at a molecular level allows for control over size, shape, surface functionality, and responsiveness to physiological stimuli, offering significant advantages in targeted drug delivery and controlled release.
The properties of biodegradable polymers can be altered, and certain limitations can be overcome by blending them with other polymeric materials or nanomaterials. The constantly expanding use of biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles for biomedical applications is of substantial interest in interdisciplinary fields of science and has attracted many researchers from chemistry, materials, biology, pharmacy, and medicine.
This Special Issue of Polymers aims to provide an overview of recent developments in the rapidly evolving field of biodegradable polymeric nanocarriers for the delivery of therapeutics for a myriad of diseases and other biomedical applications. Both original research articles and review papers related to the design, development, and application of biodegradable polymeric nanocarriers across a wide range of biomedical disciplines evaluating their advantages and challenges for clinical translation are solicited.
Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Biodegradable polymeric nanomaterials;
- Biodegradable nanocarriers;
- Polymeric biomaterials;
- Nanocarriers and drug delivery systems (DDSs);
- Delivery of therapeutics, peptides, proteins, DNA, and mRNA;
- Stimuli-responsive and controlled release nanocarriers;
- Biodegradable polymers for tissue engineering, implants, and scaffolds;
- Biodegradable polymeric nanocomposites for biomedical applications;
- Biodegradable polymers in diagnostics, biosensors, and medical devices.
Dr. Basavaraj Rudragouda Patil
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- biodegradable polymers
- polymeric nanoparticles
- nanocarriers
- drug delivery
- nanomedicine
- stimuli responsive
- biomedical
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