Characterization Techniques for Stimuli-Responsive Delivery Nanoplatforms in Cancer Treatment

Stimuli-responsive nanoplatforms provide the significant advantage of efficient and targeted drug delivery in cancer therapy. Stimuli-responsive drug delivery systems are preferred over conventional chemotherapy due to their targeted and optimized drug release approach. The stimuli-responsive system increases the specificity of drug release and decreases the side effects. There are various internal and external stimuli which are responsible for the release of drugs at targeted tumor sites. The pH, enzymes and redox system serve as internal stimuli, while temperature, light and ultrasound waves serve as external stimulation. Various stimuli-responsive polymer based systems are also one of the prime areas in nanosciences. These stimuli-based responsive nanosystems are characterized as having both conventional and special characteristics. The general characteristics of nanocarriers like particle size analysis, polydispersity index, zeta potential and entrapment efficiency are covered, along with special analysis of stimuli-responsive drug release. In vitro stimuli-induced drug release is also one of the important characteristics of these nanosystems. This chapter especially emphasizes various stimuli-responsive nanoplatforms, their basic mechanisms and their applications in cancer therapy, along with special emphasis on the characteristics of these stimuli-responsive nanoplatforms.