Polymers Used in Personalized Medicines

Personalized medicine (PM) is revolutionizing healthcare by tailoring treatments to individual patients' unique biological compositions and lifestyles. This approach considers various factors, including genetic data, lifestyle, and environmental influences, to create customized therapeutic strategies. Polymers play a crucial role in PM formulations, allowing for the creation of personalized dosage patterns without adverse effects. Smart polymers, such as thermo-responsive, photo-responsive, selfrepairing, and shape-memory polymers, have garnered attention for their ability to adapt to environmental changes and stimuli. Thermo-responsive polymers like pluronics and poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) exhibit temperature-dependent behavior, making them suitable for drug delivery and tissue engineering. Photo-responsive polymers offer spatial adaptability, allowing precise control over drug release and tissue engineering processes. Self-repairing hydrogels, with dynamic covalent and noncovalent bonds, can regenerate their structure post-injury, holding promise for various clinical applications. Shape-memory polymers can temporarily adopt multiple forms and return to their original shape upon stimulation, offering versatility in biomedical applications. Common polymers used in PM include polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polylactic acid (PLA), and polycaprolactone (PCL). The applications of these polymers range from 3-D printing for personalized medical devices to controlled drug delivery systems. Future advancements in polymer science and genomic understanding will further enhance the effectiveness and scope of personalized medicine, leading to improved patient outcomes and reduced treatment side effects.

Keywords: Photo-responsive polymers, Polyvinyl alcohol, Polylactic acid, Polycaprolactone, Personalized medicines, Polymers, Self-repairing polymers, Shape-memory polymers, Smart polymers, Thermo-responsive polymers.