Phenylboronic Acid‐Containing Glucose‐Responsive Polymer Materials: Synthesis and Applications in Drug Delivery

Until now, phenylboronic acid (PBA)-based glucose-responsive materials in the forms of bulk gels, nanogels (microgels), micelles, vesicles, and silica nanoparticles have been synthesized and used for drug delivery. This chapter discusses the recent advances in the synthesis of PBA-containing glucose-responsive polymer materials and the application of them in drug (especially insulin) delivery. Though PBA-containing bulk gels could be synthesized and used as implantable carrier for insulin delivery, more desirable PBA-based glucose-responsive materials were suggested to be in the nanoscale forms such as nanogels (microgels), which may meet different needs such as prompt drug release, oral administration, and intravenous injection. Most drug delivery studies based on PBA-containing polymer materials, now, focused on insulin aiming at the treatment of diabetes mellitus.