Summarises the recent knowledge in this field and presents successful applications of polymer-based supramolecular nanometre-sized structures in medicine - both in diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

1 - Foreword; 2 - Basics; Polymer materials for biomedical application; Factors influencing the polymer's applicability in biomedical fields; References; Contact; Strategies for transmembrane passage of polymer-based nanostructures; Introduction; Peptides and proteins delivery; Gene delivery; General vaccines delivery; Nanoparticles; Strategies for Transmembrane Passage of Polymer-Based Nanostructures; Gastrointestinal Transepithelial Permeability of Polymer-Based Nanostructures; Mechanisms of Transepithelial Transport of Nanoparticles; Paracellular Pathway; Transcellular Pathway; Strategies for Transepithelial Permeability of Polymer-Based Nanostructures through the Paracellular Pathway; Strategies for Transepithelial Permeability of Polymer-Based Nanostructures through the Transcellular Pathway; Modification of Polymer-Based Nanostructure Surfaces with Targeting Moieties (Targeted Delivery Systems); Gastrointestinal Targeting of Nanoparticles with Surfaces Modified by Lectins; M Cell Targeting with Polymer-Based Nanostructures Decorated With Lectins on the Surface; Capability of M cells to absorb non-targeted nanoparticles; Strategies for the absorption of targeted nanoparticles by M cells; The use of lectins to target M cells for particulate uptake; The use of Invasins to target M cells for particulate uptake; M Cell Targeting with Polymer-Based Nanostructures Decorated With Antibody on the Surface; Strategy Based on the Understanding and the Use of the right animal model and Conversion of Epithelia cells to M cells; Enterocyte Targeting with Polymer-Based Nanostructures Decorated With Lectins on the Surface; The Use of targeted lecitin-decorated particles to promote particulate absorption by the enterocytes; The Use of targeted Vitamin B12-decorated particles to promote particulate absorption by the enterocytes; The Use of targeted RGD peptide-decorated particles to promote particulate absorption by the enterocytes; Colon Targeting with Polymer-Based Nanostructures Decorated With Lectins on the Surface; Strategies for Gastrointestinal Delivery of Nanoparticles Using Bio-(Muco-) adhesion mechanism; Bioadhesion and Mucoadhesion; Bioadhesion of Polymer-Based Nanostructures; Mucoadhesion Based on Non-specific Interactions; Bioadhesion Based on Specific Interactions; Bio-(muco) adhesive nanoparticles; Chitosan; Poly(lactide-co-glycolide) copolymer; Poly(methylvinylether-co-maleic anhydride) (PVM/MA); Poly(alkylcyanoacrylate); Poly-fumaric anhydride-co-sebacic anhydride (P(FA:SA)); Methacrylic acid grafted with poly(ethylene glycol), and acrylic acid grafted with poly(ethylene glycol); Hydroxypropyl- -cyclodextrin-insulin (HP CD-I) complex encapsulated polymethacrylic acid-chitosan-polyether (polyethylene glycol-polypropylene glycol copolymer) (PMCP) nanoparticles; Ply(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) hydrogel nanoparticles; The Use Permeability Or Absorption Enhancers as a Strategy for Transepithelial Permeability of Nanoparticles; Surfactants; Chitosan and its derivatives; Thiolated polymers; Strategy based on the Influence of Particle Size on Transepithelial Permeability of Nanoparticles; Nanoparticle Size and Vaccine Development; Strategies Based on the Influence of Particle Surface Properties (Charge and hydrophobicity) on Transepithelial Permeability of Nanoparticles; Strategies Based on Protein Transduction; Historical Perspectives; Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) involved in delivery of therapeutic agents; Mechanism of Translocation; Applications of CPP to Particulate Permeability; Strategy for Permeability of Nanostructures Across Other Mucosal Epithelia; Transepithelial permeability of polymer-based nanostructures across the lung epithelium; Effect of Particle Size; Mucoadhesion; Targeting with Lectin; Nasal route; Ophthalmic route; Size; Mucoadhesion; Surface Charge; Strategies for Permeability of Polymer-Based; Nanostructures Across Blood-Brain Barrier; Surfactant; Surface charge; Particle size; Antibody for targeting the Blood-Brain Barrier; Lectin for targeting the Blood-Brain Barrier; Nanogel for targeted delivery of drugs and macromolecules to the brain; References; Contact; Nanoparticle Engineering for the Lymphatic System and Lymph Node Targeting; Introduction; Nanoparticle size; Nanoparticle surface engineering; Surface modification with serum; Surface manipulation with block copolymers; Recent trends in vesicular surface engineering; Platform nanotechnologies; Conclusions; References; Contact; Strategies for Intracellular Delivery of Polymer-based Nanosystems; Introduction; Barriers to cellular transport of nanosystems; Nanosystem-cell interactions and cellular internalization; Intracellular trafficking of nanosystems; Challenges; References; Contact; Strategies for triggered release from polymer-based nanostructures; Introduction; Stimuli applied for triggered release; Temperature; Polymers based on LCST; Polymers based on amphiphilic balance; Polymeric nanovehicles for drug delivery with temperature-triggered release mechanism; pH; Anionic and cationic polymers; Polymeric systems with acidic pH-cleavable bonds; Polymeric nanovehicles for drug release by pH-triggered destabilization mechanism; Other stimuli (light, electric fields, ionic strength, biomolecules, etc.); Magnetic and electric field; Ultrasound; Light; Specific interactions; Channel proteins - candidates for triggers of drug release; Antigen responsive polymers; Enzyme-triggered drug delivery systems; Glucose-responsive polymers; Redox-sensitive systems; References; Contact; Strategies for enhanced biocompatibility and biodegrability of polymer-based nanostructures; 3 - Polymer-based nanostructures for diagnostic applications; Polymeric nanoparticles for medical imaging; Introduction; Polymeric particles in medical imaging; MRI Contrast agents; Overview; Toward ideal contrast agents; The case for nanoparticle agents: Gd-albumin experience; The problem of MRI sensitivity; References; Type I, Linear chains, polylysine backbone; Motivation; Synthesis and Conformation; Role of electric dipole centers on the polymer chain; Transport rate blocking; cRGD peptide effects; Binding site density; Scaling law; Trans-endothelial transport: the new mechanism; Cell-surface assisted migration; Summary; Tumor assessment; References; Type I, linear chains, dextran backbone; Motivation and early results; DOTA linked dextran; Synthesis of carboxymethyldextran -A2-Gd-DOTA; Clearance and safety; Angiography; Tumor assessment; New DTPA-dextran constructs; Dextran constructs for nuclear and optical imaging; Summary; References; Type II, Dendrimers and globular particles; Introduction; Structures and synthesis of principle classes of dendrimers for imaging; DTPA-dendrimers, principle characteristics; DOTA linked dendrimer, Gadomer 17; Structure and characteristics; Biodistribution and elimination; Dendrimer elimination and safety; Remarks on safety; Applications; Angiography; Lymph node evaluation; Tumor characterization; Summary; Other constructs, targeting, and CT; References; Globular agents and endothelial pore size distribution; Tumor endothelial leakiness, large pore dominance model; Theoretical; Pore size distribution in rat mammary tumors; PEG linked Gd-DTPA-polylysine; References; Iron oxide nanoparticles; Summary overview; Developments; Polymer coating; Monomer coating; Labeling of cells; Cell trafficking; Cell labeling II and detection limits; Lymphocyte homing; Single cell detection; Signal nonlinearity; Lymphography; Gene expression; Targeting; Tumor assessment; References; Contact; Polymeric vesicles/capsules for diagnostic applications in medicine; Introduction; Ex vivo Diagnostics; Polymeric Nanoparticles; Diagnostic Imaging; X-Ray; Liposomes; Polymeric particles; Gold particles; Magnetic Resonance Imaging-contrast; SPIOs and USPIOs; Liposomes; Dendrimers; Ultrasound Contrast Agents; Surfactant-stabilized nanobubbles; Liquid Perfluorocarbons; Solid nanoparticles; Hollow Polymeric nanocapsules; Imaging and Drug and Gene delivery; Targeted UCA; Gold nanoparticles and photoacoustic measurements; Optical Imaging; Radionuclide imaging; Single photon emission computed tomography; Positron emission tomography; Conclusion; References; Contact; 4 - Polymer-based nanostructures for therapeutic applications; Polymeric micelles for therapeutic applications in medicine; Introduction; Solubilization by micelles; Polymeric micelles; Micelle preparation, morphology, and drug loading; Drug-loaded polymeric micelles in vivo; targeted and stimuli-sensitive micelles; Other applications of polymeric micelles; Micelles in immunology; Micelles as carriers of contrast agents; Conclusion; References; Contact; Polymeric particles for therapeutic applications in medicine; Anti-Cancer Polymersomes; Introduction; Polymersome structure and properties; Controlled release polymersomes; Small molecule chemotherapeutics for shrinking tumors; Efforts to target polymersomes; Conclusions and opportune comparisons to copolymer micelles; References; Contact; 5 - Polymer-based nanostructures with an intelligent functionality; Polymer-based nanoreactors for medical applications; Introduction; The nanoreactor toolbox; Polymers; Channels and enzymes used in nanoreactors; Permeabilizing proteins; Encapsulated proteins; Preparation methods; Ethanol method; Film hydration method; Direct dispersion method; Functionalized reactors; Targeting of nanoreactors to different tissues; Controlling the activity of the nanoreactor; Applications; Open questions; References; Contact; Nanoparticles for cancer diagnosis and therapy; Introduction; Cancer facts/problems; Nanoparticle advantages for cancer therapy and imaging; Nanoparticles for therapy; Chemotherapy; Polymeric nanoparticles; Dendrimer; Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN); Low density lipoprotein (LDL); Radiotherapy; Photodynamic Therapy (PDT); Thermotherapy; Nanoparticles for imaging; Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); Optical Imaging; X-ray Computed Tomography (CT); Bimodal Imaging: MRI and Fluorescence Imaging; Multitasking nanoparticles for integrated imaging and therapy; Summary and future challenges; Acknowledgements; References; Contact