Organic polymer particles for biomedical applications

Organic polymer nano- and microparticles have found multiple applications in the medical domain ranging from targeted drug delivery to detection of tumors in the body. In this respect, functionalization of particle species is especially promising as it provides the means to flexibly tailor their properties. In this chapter we review recent advances in the preparation of polymer structures and their modification by immobilization of organic molecules and/or incorporation of inorganic nanoparticles. Combination of various modification strategies allows to fabricate multifunctional structures which are capable to perform several tasks at the same time. We discuss the key aspects of the preparation of plain polymer particles, review anchoring organic molecules to accomplish stealth or targeting functionalities, and describe the incorporation of metallic, magnetic, and semiconducting nanoparticles to provide new diagnostic and therapeutic modalities.