Self-assembled nanogel tectonics for drug delivery system and tissue engineering

Nanogels can be used as a new DDS for biologics by efficiently trapping biomacromolecules such as DNA, siRNA, peptides and proteins. We first reported physically cross-linked nanogels by self-assembly of hydrophobized polysaccharides (self-Nanogel). The proteins are trapped inside of the amphiphilic nanogel polymer network without aggregation and are able to be released in the native form by various stimuli (chaperon function). Polysaccharide nanogels act as a universal protein-based antigen delivery vehicle for efficient cancer vaccine system and also for intranasal vaccination. Various stimuli-responsive polysaccharide nanogels with pH, temperature, and light responsivity were designed by self-assembly of functional group-bearing polysaccharides. Recently, a new method, termed nanogel tectonics, was proposed to construct gel materials with a hierarchical structure for advanced gel biomedical. Polysaccharide self-nanogels are used as individual components for building nano-integrated functional glycol-based gel systems. For example, polysaccharide nanogels cross-linked (NanoClik) microsphere, porous gels, fiber and sheet have been designed.