Preparation of Particulate Polymeric Therapeutics for Medical Applications

Particulate therapeutics fabricated from polymeric materials have become increasingly popular over the past several decades. Generally, polymeric systems are easy to synthesize and have tunable parameters, giving them significant potential for wide use in the clinic. They come in many different forms, including nanoparticles, microparticles, and colloidal gels. Here, the current preparation methods for each type of platform are discussed, along with some representative applications. To achieve enhanced performance, lipid coatings and other surface-modification techniques for introduction of additional functionalities are also mentioned. By outlining the various methods and techniques for their preparation, insights into the utility of these polymeric platforms are provided and their development for biomedical applications further encouraged.