CHAPTER 6:Stimuli-Responsive Structures from Cationic Polymers for Biomedical Applications

The potential of cationic polymers in biological applications such as drug delivery and tissue engineering is widely recognized. The presence of a positively charged surface can promote cell attachment and interaction with oppositely charged molecules or drugs. This chapter focuses on cationic polymers with stimuli-responsive and self-assembly properties. These smart polymers can undergo reversible changes in response to small variations in the environment, such as pH and temperature, that can be advantageously used, for example, to target specific tissues or cell compartments, or to induce rapid drug release at the regeneration or diseased site. Examples based on cationic hydrogels, micelles and nanoparticles are introduced and discussed from the point of view of their mechanism of action and applicability in drug delivery, gene delivery and tissue engineering.