Polymeric Micelles: Précis for Past, Present and Future: PolyMicelles

In nanoMedicine today, tackling drug delivery-related issues is key. Herein, nano-sized drug delivery vehicles and carriers represent a cornerstone in ongoing efforts for drug development, formulation and optimization. Indeed, the self-assembly of amphiphilic polymers, or aggregation colloids (in solution), commonly referred to as polymeric micelles, continue to represent an invaluably desirable and pursued small-scale, easy-to-formulate, -characterize and -sterilize tool in pharmaceutical innovation, mainly, in overcoming critical issues in drug delivery and administration, including low water solubility in biological fluids and poor drug permeability across biological barriers. Yet, challenges, related to post-administration stability and behavior (pre-clinical and clinical) for example, continue to drive the present research, development and innovation efforts across the World. In this Introductory Chapter, a concise presentation and discussion of the past, present and future of polymeric micelles, including characterization parameters, methods of preparation, drug(s) loading and challenges, is presented.