Advances in nano-polymers and nano-composites for biomedical applications

Nano-polymers and nanocomposites have become new generation materials in biomedical applications due to their improved characteristics for drug delivery, tissue engineering and antimicrobial activity. This research focuses on the synthesis, characterization and evaluation of nano-polymers and nanocomposites most of the time for cancer therapy and anti-infection. New and stable nano-composites were developed using emulsion polymerization, electrospinning and sol-gel techniques and the nano-composites till the end were analyzed to check the nanoparticle incorporation and homogeneity using FTIR, TEM, SEM and XRD. The drug release profiles demonstrated a controlled and sustained profile, particularly for doxorubicin encapsulated in PLGA and PLGA co-incorporated with hydroxyapatite where the system is sensitive to changes in pH in the tumor microenvironments. From the cytotoxicity tests, the nanocomposites are biocompatible and the addition of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles enhanced cell adhesion and proliferation, therefore the nanocomposites can be used in tissue engineering applications. Antimicrobial tests showed significant inhibition against both the gram positive and gram negative bacterial strains when surfaces modified with silver nanoparticles were employed. The same animals also validated the therapeutic potential of the doxorubicin-loaded nanocomposites in reducing tumor volume in a mouse model. These findings show that nano-polymers and nanocomposites can be used for drug delivery and diagnostics, tissue engineering, and anti-microbial medical devices. Further research should be directed toward improving their applicability in clinical practice, the method’s repeatability, and its risks.