Molecularly Imprinted Polymers as Advanced Drug Delivery Systems

This book summarizes the recent advancements for drug delivery systems (DDS) in terms of fundamental principles, rapidly emerging techniques and developing frontiers of molecular imprinting. Especially with the combination of enantioselective molecularly imprinted polymers and water compatible molecularly imprinted polymers, stimuli responsive imprinted DDS have been innovated and applied to dermal delivery, ophthalmic drugs and cancer treatment. This philosophy comprehensively revolutionizes the treatment strategy of human healthcare and provides the possibility to re-trigger in vivo an exhaust system after the complete release of the starting drug cargo, thus enabling precision medicine. To this end, the following unique features will be discussed and concluded: 1) State-of-the-art definition of MIP as drug delivery systems. 2) Advanced techniques and clinical applications of MIP as drug delivery systems in the past decade. 3) Novel frontiers and brand-new technologies, for example, drug delivery devices for zero-order sustained release and stimuli responsive imprinted DDS. 4) Revolutionary impact on dermal delivery, ophthalmic drugs and cancer treatment. 5) Future challenges and perspectives