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Delivery of macromolecular drugs: An update

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 November 2025

Robert Langer*
Affiliation:
MIT , USA
*
Corresponding author: Robert Langer; Email: rlanger@mit.edu

Abstract

In 2019, in this journal, I discussed approaches for controlling the movement of molecules, in particular macromolecules, with an emphasis on how this enabled advances in the field of drug delivery – a field that has impacted billions of people worldwide. Since 2019, there have been advances in our work and this field including a striking demonstration in which drug delivery nanoparticles were crucial to the success of mRNA therapies and the Covid-19 vaccine. In this paper, I provide updates in such areas as i) developing new methods for oral drug delivery systems, ii) delivery of molecules to specific sites of the body, iii) new types of delivery systems, and iv) examples of machine learning/artificial intelligence in these areas. I also discuss advances in mRNA technology as it relates to drug delivery and the development of nanoparticles to protect and deliver vaccines, which saved and improved the lives of hundreds of millions of people throughout the world.

Information

Type
Review
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press

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