CHAPTER 8: Integrated Polymer Composites for Electro-responsive Drug Delivery

The notions of “on-demand” and “on–off” therapeutic intervention fits perfectly with electro-responsive drug delivery (ERDD) systems, wherein an external modulation of bioactive release can be realised and even programmed. Conventionally, electroactive candidates such as polyaniline, polypyrrole, polythiophene, ethylene vinyl acetate, and polyethylene were blended with polymeric or peptide hydrogels. However, the recent interests in ERDD derive from the integration of material composites (such as carbon nanotubes, graphene oxide, clay enclatherates, and microtubes) together with responsive hydrogels to provide enhanced and more electro-controllable drug delivery platforms. This chapter provides an insight into recent advances in integrated polymer composites for ERDD and a molecular mechanistic outlook to the performance and setup of such stimuli responsive systems.