The ability for synthetic polymers to degrade in a controlled manner was developed for environmental reasons in the late 1960s. Interest in utilizing biodegradable polymers for biomedical applications rapidly followed and research focused on designing novel materials has continued to grow. Biodegradable polymers can be tailored for controlled degradation through numerous functional groups inclu...

Lysosomal enzymes function optimally in acidic environments, and elevation of lysosomal pH can impede their ability to degrade material delivered to lysosomes through autophagy or phagocytosis. We hypothesize that abnormal lysosomal pH is a key aspect in diseases of accumulation and that restoring lysosomal pH will improve cell function. The propensity of nanoparticles to end up in the lysosome...