Polymeric Micelles: Morphology, Synthesis, and Pharmaceutical Application

¹ Queen Mary University of London Engineering School, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China.
² 1010 West University Ave, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.

^† These authors contributed equally.
^* Corresponding author: anda2@illinois.edu

Abstract

Polymeric micelles (PMs) are nanosized core-shell molecules formed by the self-assembly of amphiphilic block copolymers. Their unique morphologies, biocompatibility have allowed them to serve as drug carriers and have found wide applications in the pharmaceutical industry. This review summarizes the recent progress of PM development and its applications in the pharmaceutical field. Firstly, we discussed the fundamentals of polymeric micelles, the formation mechanism, and their relative morphologies. Then we listed various common synthetic methods, including the solvent-free method, solvent-switch method, microfluid method, etc. Secondly, we illustrated the application of polymeric micelles in pharmaceutical applications on targeting, imaging, and stimuli-responsive drug release. In the end, we summarize the fundamental aspect of how to prepare polymeric micelles, their resulting morphology, and their applications in the medical field. Finally, we provide insights into polymeric micelles’ future developments on their longer shelf life and better environmental adaptability.