In this thesis we deal with the nonlinear Schrödinger equation with modulated coefficients in different contexts. This nonlinear differential equation is widely used to describe light pulses propagating through an optical fiber or to model the dynamics of a Bose-Einstein condensate. First, we apply point canonical transformations to solve some classes of nonlinear Schrödinger equation with modulated coefficients namely, those which possess specific cubic and quantic (time-and space-dependent) nonlinearities. The method applied here allows us to find wide localized (in space) soliton solutions to the nonlinear Schrödinger equation, which were not presented before. In the context of Bose-Einstein condensates, we also generalize the external potential which traps the system and the nonlinearities terms. Then, we apply point canonical transformations to solve some classes of two coupled nonlinear Schrödinger equations with modulated coefficients namely, specific cubic and quantic-time and space dependent-nonlinearities. The method applied here allows us to find a class of wide localized (in space) vector soliton solutions of two coupled nonlinear Schrödinger equations. The vector solitons found here can be applied to theoretical studies of Bose-condensed atoms in two different internal states and of ultrashort pulse propagation in optical fibers with focusing and defocusing nonlinearities. Finally, we use point canonical transformations to obtain localized (in space) exact solutions of the nonlinear Schrödinger equation with cubic and quantic space and time modulated nonlinearities and in the presence of time-dependent and inhomogeneous external potentials and amplification or absorption (source or drain) term. We obtain a class of wide localized exact solutions of nonlinear Schrödinger equation in the presence of a number of non-Hermitian...(Complete abstract click electronic access below)