| Redox-responsive nanogels can encapsulate appropriate amount of active ingredient, deliver
drugs to the target cells by the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect or specific
targeted groups, and finally, rapidly release the loaded drug at the site of action when the redoxstimulus is applied. These programmed site-specific drug delivery features cause unique drug
delivery control in the stimuli-responsive nanogels and lead to superior in vitro and/or in vivo
anti-cancer efficacy. Because of the high difference between the concentration of oxidative
species in normal and tumor tissues, which is very important for biomedical applications
particularly cancer therapy, the redox-responsive nanogels have received much attention among
various stimuli-responsive nanogels. Thus, in this review, we attempt to summarize recent efforts
to prepare innovative redox-responsive nanogels and discuss recent advances in the interface
between drug delivery and stimuli-responsive nanogels that are able to control drug
biodistribution in response to specific stimuli, with a particular emphasis on their design, drug
release performance, and therapeutic benefits. |