The recent advances in materials science have enabled great achievements in
the development of polymer scaffolds, which can constitute innovative platforms for
the development of novel topical drug delivery systems (TDDS) associated with sitespecific
or prolonged drug release. The application of polymer scaffolds as drug
delivery systems often relies on their combination with many types of nanocarriers,
such as liposomes, solid nanoparticles, micelles, nanogels and metallic nanoparticles.
The combination of polymer scaffolds and drug nanocarriers and the association of
controlled drug release properties provide novel materials, considered hybrid as they
gather two therapeutic effects: scaffolding and drug delivery. Such hybrid scaffolds
have been shown to be suitable for delivering drugs at controlled rates and site
distribution. Many drug carriers are often associated with stability issues, drug leaking
or considerable interaction with undesirable cells, hindering their clinical function.
Hence, for topical application, drug nanocarriers are often introduced in conventional
secondary vehicles such as creams and lotions in order to provide the viscosity,
extended residence time and adhesiveness, properties necessary for the administration
route. In addition, smart stimuli-responsive polymers can be used in the formulation of
both scaffolds and nanocarriers, being promising approaches in the topical treatment of
various diseases. In this context, hybrid smart polymer-based scaffolds are versatile
platforms for the development of novel TDDS. Such smart materials, in addition to
being able to combine the benefits of different structural components, can also respond
to external stimuli such as temperature, pH, and redox status, which can increase the
effectiveness of therapeutic agents and decrease harmful effects on the surrounding tissue. In this chapter, the different polymer-based scaffolds, most nanocarriers and
stimuli-responsive polymers are described as well as their most varied applications in
the field of technological development of topical delivery systems for ideal drugs,
which is still a challenge for formulation scientists.
Keywords: Hybrid systems, Nanoparticles, Polymer-based scaffolds, Polymers,
Smart materials, Topical drug delivery.
