Poly(α-L-glutamic acid) (PGA) is a class of synthetic polypeptides composed of the monomeric unit α-L-glutamic acid. Owing to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and non-immunogenicity, PGA-based nanomaterials have been elaborately designed for drug delivery systems. Relevant studies including the latest research results on PGA-based nanomaterials for drug delivery have been discussed in this work. The following related topics are summarized as: (1) a brief description of the synthetic strategies of PGAs; (2) an elaborated presentation of the evolving applications of PGA in the areas of drug delivery, including the rational design, precise fabrication, and biological evaluation; (3) a profound discussion on the further development of PGA-based nanomaterials in drug delivery. In summary, the unique structures and superior properties enables PGA-based nanomaterials to represent as an enormous potential in biomaterials-related drug delivery areas.
The design of stable, efficient and processable bactericidal materials represents a significant challenge for combating multidrug-resistant bacteria in a variety of engineering fields. Herein, we report a facile strategy for the preparation of hollow polymeric nanosphere (HPN)-supported imidazolium-based ionic liquids (denoted as HPN-ILs) with superior antimicrobial activities. HPN-ILs were tailored by moderate Friedel-Crafts polymerization followed by the sequential covalent bonding of imidazole and bromoalkene. The resultant HPN-ILs have uniform hollow spherical morphology, an adequate surface area, and excellent physicochemical stability. Furthermore, they are highly active against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and exhibit typical time/dosage-dependent antibacterial activities. The rational combination of porous HPNs and antibacterial ILs to generate an all-in-one entity may open new avenues for the design and fabrication of efficient bacteriostatic agents. Moreover, HPN-ILs have good biocompatibility and can also be loaded onto diverse matrices, and thus could extend their practical bactericidal application in the potential biomedical-active field.