Enhancing Drug Function

Micelles--nanoscale core-and-corona assemblies of amphiphilic polymers--may help to deliver drugs to their target areas (such as tumors) within the body. In his Perspective, [Hubbell][1] reviews recent efforts to devise such drug-delivery vehicles. He highlights the report by [Savi][2] et al ., who use such a micellar approach to deliver drugs to particular compartments within the cell. Related methods may help to deliver DNA to cell interiors. Extrapolation of these ideas to vesicles (which enclose an aqueous core) may permit larger molecules to be delivered, independent of the identity of the molecule. [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/300/5619/595 [2]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/300/5619/615