Contributors were asked to emphasize their own experience with nanoparticles or microspheres. They were also encouraged to provide aspects normally not stipulated in specialized reviews. The objective was to produce a book which although written by specialists, presented a subject which could be easily understood by people in different fields of life sciences. Another goal was to set up a condensed work covering many aspects of nanoparticles and microspheres. That is the reason why, although mainly dealing with synthetic drug carriers, the first chapter is related to preparation and physicochemical properties of nanoparticles constructed from natural polymers. This is followed by two chapters involving the application of polymeric drug carriers in cancer therapy. The second chapter extensively describes in vitro and in vivo behaviour of purely synthetic nanoparticles. As ub the case of liposomes, a problem can be that some particles are preferentially taken up by the reticuloendothelial system. Magnetic drug carriers provide a partial answer to this problem since their tropism can be managed by an external magnet. The third chapter is entirely devoted to this aspect. A brief but original application of nanoparticles is given in the fourth chapter by reviewing their use in ocular therapy. Finally, two general applications of polymeric microspheres are discussed in chapters 5 and 6.

Nanoparticulate drug delivery systems based on gelatin and albumin. Biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles as drug carrier for antitumor. Biomedical appllications of magnetic drug carriers in cancer chemotherapy. Ocular theraphy with nanoparticles. Microcapsules and microspheres for embolization and chemoembolization. Colloidal particles as radiodignostic agents.

Together, the nano explosion and the genomic revolution are ushering in a new frontier in drug delivery. In recent years we've seen how polymers can play a crucial role in controlling the rate of drug release, enhancing solubility and uptake, and limiting degradation and toxicity. In the very near future, they may well be used to deliver gene thera

Polymeric materials are now playing an increasingly important role in pharmaceuticals, as well as in sensing devices, in situ prostheses and probes, and microparticle diagnostic agents. This new volume consists of twenty-two recent research-based reports on the developments in these areas of pharmaceutical and biomaterials technology. The reports w

This volume serves as a valuable handbook for the development of nanomedicines made of polymer nanoparticles because it provides researchers, students, and entrepreneurs with all the material necessary to begin their own projects in this field. Readers will find protocols to prepare polymer nanoparticles using different methods, since these are based on the variety of experiences that experts encounter in the field. In addition, complex topics such as, the optimal characterization of polymer nanoparticles is discussed, as well as practical guidelines on how to formulate polymer nanoparticles into nanomedicines, and how to modify the properties of nanoparticles to give them the different functionalities required to become an efficient nanomedicine for different clinical applications. The book also discusses the translation of technology from research to practice, considering aspects related to industrialization of preparation and aspects of regulatory and clinical development.

NANOTECHNOLOGY IN FUNCTIONAL FOODS The broad applicability of bioactive delivery systems for improving food quality, safety, and human health will make this book a valuable resource for a wide range of readers in industry, research, and academia. Functional foods is an emerging trend in the food industry, whose potential value is determined by whether they are safe with respect to consumer health. Nanotechnology in Functional Foods was written to help the reader better understand the benefits and concerns associated with these foods. In addition to giving an overview of the current state-of-the-art in functional foods, different aspects of the advanced research being conducted on their extraction, synthesis, analysis, and biological effects are presented. Besides focusing on several synthesis techniques, the book also discusses the application of nanoparticles in nutrient delivery and pharmaceuticals, such as nano-emulsions, solid lipid nanoparticles, and polymeric nanoparticles; their properties and interactions with other food components and their impact on the human body; the consumer acceptance and diversification of these nutrients. Moreover, new trends are discussed concerning the application of artificial intelligence in screening various components of functional foods. Audience The book will be central to food scientists, materials scientists, biotechnologists, medicinal chemists, pharmacists, and medical professionals. Tanima Bhattacharya, PhD, is a formulation scientist, who completed her Doctoral degree in Food Processing & Nutrition Science from the Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur, West Bengal, India and gained overseas post-doctoral experience from the College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Hubei University of China. She has published several scientific research articles in international peer-reviewed journals, and her research interests include the fabrication of biocompatible nanostructures and studying their properties and applications in the area of food science, technology, and biomedical sciences. Shakeel Ahmed, PhD, is an assistant professor of Chemistry at the Higher Education Department, Government of Jammu and Kashmir, India. His PhD degree in Chemistry is from Jamia Millia Islamia, A Central University, New Delhi. He has published several research publications in the area of green nanomaterials and biopolymers for various applications including biomedical, packaging, and water treatment. He has published more than 20 books in the area of nanomaterials and green materials.