Polymer-based Vehicles for Therapeutic Peptide Delivery

During the last decades increasing attention has been paid to peptides as potential therapeutics. However, clinical applications of peptide drugs suffer from susceptibility to degradation, rather short circulation half-life, limited ability to cross physiological barriers and potential immunogenicity. These challenges can be addressed by using polymeric materials as peptide delivery systems, owing to their versatile structures and properties. A number of polymer-based vehicles have been developed to stabilize the peptides and to control their release rates. Unfortunately, no single polymer or formulation strategy has been considered ideal for all types of peptide drugs. In this review, currently used and potential polymer-based systems for the peptide delivery will be discussed.