Recent Advances and Patents on Nanoscale Systems and Triggerable Drug Delivery in Medical Devices

The emergence of nanotechnology has made a major impact in medical device technology. Nanosized materials enable innovative solutions, including improvements in biocompatibility and advanced drug delivery systems. Through nanotechnology, one can design and incorporate “intelligent” materials and devices, which can respond to their surrounding environment or be externally triggered to improve their function. Various implantable medical devices for therapeutic delivery purposes are in demand to deliver medication at a specific site in patients and to control the release of drugs and genes by altering release times and/or rates to reach the maximum therapeutic benefit. In this review, the focus will be on triggered drug delivery through external stimulation and nanoscale delivery platforms for implants and prosthetics.