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.

This book highlights the evolution of, and novel challenges currently facing, nanomaterials science, nanoengineering, and nanotechnology, and their applications and development in the biological and biomedical fields. It details different nanoscale and nanostructured materials syntheses, processing, characterization, and applications, and considers improvements that can be made in nanostructured materials with their different biomedical applications. The book also briefly covers the state of the art of different nanomaterials design, synthesis, fabrication and their potential biomedical applications. It will be particularly useful for reading and research purposes, especially for science and engineering students, academics, and industrial researchers.

This contribution book collects reviews and original articles from eminent experts working in the interdisciplinary arena of novel drug delivery systems and their uses. From their direct and recent experience, the readers can achieve a wide vision on the new and ongoing potentialities of different smart drug delivery systems. Since the advent of analytical techniques and capabilities to measure particle sizes in nanometer ranges, there has been tremendous interest in the use of nanoparticles for more efficient methods of drug delivery. On the other hand, this reference discusses advances in the design, optimization, and adaptation of gene delivery systems for the treatment of cancer, cardiovascular, diabetic, genetic, and infectious diseases, and considers assessment and review procedures involved in the development of gene-based pharmaceuticals.

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.

This first book on this important and emerging topic presents an overview of the very latest results obtained in single-chain polymer nanoparticles obtained by folding synthetic single polymer chains, painting a complete picture from synthesis via characterization to everyday applications. The initial chapters describe the synthetics methods as well as the molecular simulation of these nanoparticles, while subsequent chapters discuss the analytical techniques that are applied to characterize them, including size and structural characterization as well as scattering techniques. The final chapters are then devoted to the practical applications in nanomedicine, sensing, catalysis and several other uses, concluding with a look at the future for such nanoparticles. Essential reading for polymer and materials scientists, materials engineers, biochemists as well as environmental chemists.

This volume provides a single-source of reviews for all the important colloidal drug delivery systems, including nanoparticles, liposomes, niosomes, microemulsions and ointments. Over 1000 bibliographic citations, as well as tables, drawings, equations and photographs, are provided. Arranged in order of increasing physical complexity, this work analyzes developments in the field.