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Peer-reviewedCC BYACS Omega

Adaptive Polymers: The pH-Responsive Revolution in Biomedical Materials

  • Shubham Musale1,2,3,4
  • Suvarna S. Jarande5,6
  • Aniket Nikam6,2
  • Ranjitsinh Pawar7
  • Niyati N. Kodange8
  • Harshad S. Kapare1,2
  • Maria Nison9,10
  • Vasudev Pai9,10
  • Ajinkya Atul Aher11,12
  • Deepanjan Datta13,10
  • Prabhanjan Shridhar Giram14,1,2,15
15 affiliations
  1. 1Department of Pharmaceutics
  2. 2Dr. D.Y. Patil Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research
  3. 3Formulation Development Department
  4. 4Jodas Expoim Pvt.Ltd
  5. 5All India Shri Shivaji Memorial Society’s College of Pharmacy
  6. 6Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry
  7. 7Department of Pharmaceutics, Poona College of Pharmacy, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Erandwane, Pune 411 038, Maharashtra, India
  8. 8Department of Pharmaceutics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) S.A.S. Nagar, Sector 67, S.A.S. Nagar (Mohali) 160 062, Punjab, India
  9. 9Department of Pharmacognosy, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences
  10. 10Manipal Academy of Higher Education
  11. 11Arnold and Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
  12. 12Long Island University
  13. 13Department of Pharmaceutics, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences
  14. 14Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
  15. 15University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
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Abstract

pH-responsive polymers represent a transformative class of smart materials that adapt their physicochemical properties in response to environmental pH changes. This dynamic behavior enables precise control over drug release, tissue interaction, and diagnostic performance, making them highly relevant for advanced healthcare applications. These polymers exploit ionizable functional groups that undergo protonation or deprotonation, triggering conformational changes, solubility shifts, or swelling behavior. Such responsiveness is particularly advantageous in physiological contexts where pH gradients exist, such as the gastrointestinal tract, tumor microenvironments, and intracellular compartments. Recent advances have expanded their utility from simple drug carriers to multifunctional platforms integrating targeting, imaging, and therapeutic functions. Innovations in polymer design, such as block copolymers, hydrogels, and nanostructured assemblies, have improved biocompatibility, tunability, and responsiveness, enabling controlled delivery of small molecules, proteins, and nucleic acids. Furthermore, hybrid systems combining pH-sensitive polymers with inorganic or biological components have opened new avenues for personalized medicine and regenerative therapies. Despite significant progress, challenges remain in achieving predictable in vivo performance, scalable synthesis, and regulatory compliance. This review critically examines the molecular mechanisms, material architectures, and biomedical applications of pH-responsive polymers, highlighting emerging trends and future directions. By bridging chemistry and clinical needs, these adaptive materials are poised to revolutionize therapeutic strategies and diagnostic technologies in modern healthcare.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{musale2026adaptive,
  title = {{Adaptive Polymers: The pH-Responsive Revolution in Biomedical Materials}},
  author = {Shubham Musale and Suvarna S. Jarande and Aniket Nikam and Ranjitsinh Pawar and Niyati N. Kodange and Harshad S. Kapare and Maria Nison and Vasudev Pai and Ajinkya Atul Aher and Deepanjan Datta and Prabhanjan Shridhar Giram},
  journal = {ACS Omega},
  year = {2026},
  month = may,
  doi = {10.1021/acsomega.6c01425},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.6c01425},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Adaptive Polymers: The pH-Responsive Revolution in Biomedical Materials
AU  - Shubham Musale
AU  - Suvarna S. Jarande
AU  - Aniket Nikam
AU  - Ranjitsinh Pawar
AU  - Niyati N. Kodange
AU  - Harshad S. Kapare
AU  - Maria Nison
AU  - Vasudev Pai
AU  - Ajinkya Atul Aher
AU  - Deepanjan Datta
AU  - Prabhanjan Shridhar Giram
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/05/20
JO  - ACS Omega
DO  - 10.1021/acsomega.6c01425
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.6c01425
AB  - pH-responsive polymers represent a transformative class of smart materials that adapt their physicochemical properties in response to environmental pH changes. This dynamic behavior enables precise control over drug release, tissue interaction, and diagnostic performance, making them highly relevant for advanced healthcare applications. These polymers exploit ionizable functional groups that undergo protonation or deprotonation, triggering conformational changes, solubility shifts, or swelling behavior. Such responsiveness is particularly advantageous in physiological contexts where pH gradients exist, such as the gastrointestinal tract, tumor microenvironments, and intracellular compartments. Recent advances have expanded their utility from simple drug carriers to multifunctional platforms integrating targeting, imaging, and therapeutic functions. Innovations in polymer design, such as block copolymers, hydrogels, and nanostructured assemblies, have improved biocompatibility, tunability, and responsiveness, enabling controlled delivery of small molecules, proteins, and nucleic acids. Furthermore, hybrid systems combining pH-sensitive polymers with inorganic or biological components have opened new avenues for personalized medicine and regenerative therapies. Despite significant progress, challenges remain in achieving predictable in vivo performance, scalable synthesis, and regulatory compliance. This review critically examines the molecular mechanisms, material architectures, and biomedical applications of pH-responsive polymers, highlighting emerging trends and future directions. By bridging chemistry and clinical needs, these adaptive materials are poised to revolutionize therapeutic strategies and diagnostic technologies in modern healthcare.
SN  - 2470-1343
ER  -