Ionic liquid-mediated drug delivery: A review on progress and challenges focused on poly(ionic liquid) nanoplatforms
Magdalena Matczuk, Andrei R. Timerbaev, Bernhard K. Keppler, Lena Ruzik
Abstract
Ionic liquids (ILs) have a long and successful history of application as materials of special interest in various fields, particularly in biomedicine. When polymerized at the nanoscale, polymeric ILs (PILs) combine the attractive properties of ILs with the united advantages of solid polymer structures and nanoparticulate matter. As rapidly developing nanomaterials of biomedical importance, they afford new prospects for the treatment of various diseases. In particular, due to their greatly tunable composition, biocompatibility and wide specific surface area, the PIL nanoparticles offer potential as delivery systems for different medications. This brief review introduces the emerging landscape of drug-delivery PIL systems and summarizes their actual and potential applications available from recent literature (after 2018). Special attention is paid to the different methods of fabricating the nano-sized PILs and their properties responsible for controlled drug release. Critically discussed are diverse examples of using nanostructures based on PILs with variable morphology designed as drug-vehicle vectors. Also brought into focus are the challenges in the preclinical development of and future perspectives on PIL nanocarriers.