Polymeric micelles for drug delivery.

Polymeric micelles have been the subject of many studies in the field of drug delivery for the past two decades. The interest has specifically been focused on the potential application of polymeric micelles in three major areas in drug delivery: drug solubilisation, controlled drug release and drug targeting. In this context, polymeric micelles consisting of poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(propylene oxide), poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(ester)s and poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(amino acid)s have shown a great promise and are in the front line of development for various applications. The purpose of this manuscript is to provide an update on the current status of polymeric micelles for each application and highlight important parameters that may lead to the development of successful polymeric micellar systems for individual delivery requirements.