The immune-stealth polymeric coating on drug delivery nanocarriers: In vitro engineering and in vivo fate

Although essential nanosystems such as nanoparticles and nanocarriers are desirable options for transporting various drug molecules into the biological environment, they rapidly remove from the circulatory system due to their interaction with multiple in vivo barriers, especially the immune barrier, which will result in their short-term effects. In order to improve their effectiveness and durability in the circulatory system, the polymer coatings can use to cover the surface of nanoparticles and nanocarriers to conceal them from the immune system. Due to their different properties (like charge, elasticity, and hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity), these coatings can improve drug delivery nanosystem durability and therapeutic applications. The mentioned coatings have different types and are divided into various categories, such as synthetic polymers, polysaccharides, and zwitterionic polymers. Each of these polymers has unique properties based on its category, origin, and chemical structure that make them suitable for producing stealth drug delivery nanocarriers. In this review article, we have tried to explain the importance of these diverse polymer coatings in determining the fate of drug nanocarriers and then introduced the different types of these coatings and, finally, described various methods that directly and indirectly analyze the nanocoatings to determine the stability of nanoparticles in the body.

Automated summary

Although nanoparticles and nanocarriers are effective in delivering drug molecules, their short-term effects are limited due to rapid removal from the circulatory system caused by interaction with in vivo barriers, especially the immune barrier. Polymer coatings can enhance their effectiveness and durability by concealing them from the immune system. Different types of coatings, such as synthetic polymers, polysaccharides, and zwitterionic polymers, have unique properties that make them suitable for producing stealth drug delivery nanocarriers. This review article explains the importance of diverse polymer coatings in determining the fate of drug nanocarriers, introduces different types of these coatings, and describes methods to analyze the nanocoatings and determine nanoparticle stability in the body.