Polymers for Controlled Drug Delivery addresses the challenges of designing macromolecules that deliver therapeutic agents that function safely and in concert with living organisms. The book primarily discusses classes of polymers and polymeric vehicles, including particulates, such as latexes, coacervates, ion-exchange resins, and liposomes, as well as non-particulate vehicles such as enteric coatings, mediators, and bioadhesives. Other topics discussed include diffusion; biodegradation-controlled delivery; animal model studies for toxicity, metabolism, and elimination testing; and FDA requirements for clinical studies. Drug delivery researchers will find this book to be an invaluable reference tool.

Polymers for Controlled Drug Delivery addresses the challenges of designing macromolecules that deliver therapeutic agents that function safely and in concert with living organisms. The book primarily discusses classes of polymers and polymeric vehicles, including particulates, such as latexes, coacervates, ion-exchange resins, and liposomes, as well as non-particulate vehicles such as enteric coatings, mediators, and bioadhesives. Other topics discussed include diffusion; biodegradation-controlled delivery; animal model studies for toxicity, metabolism, and elimination testing; and FDA requirements for clinical studies. Drug delivery researchers will find this book to be an invaluable reference tool.

This Special Issue focuses on the synthesis and characterization of hydrogels specifically used as carriers of biological molecules for pharmaceutical and biomedical employments. Pharmaceutical applications of hydrophilic materials has emerged as one of the most significant trends in the area of nanotechnology. To propose some of the latest findings in this field, each contribution involves an in-depth analysis including different starting materials and their physico-chemical and biological properties with the aim of synthetizing high-performing devices for specific use. In this context, intelligent polymeric devices able to be morphologically modified in response to an internal or external stimulus, such as pH or temperature, have been actively pursued. In general, hydrophilic polymeric materials lead to high in vitro and/or in vivo therapeutic efficacy, with programmed site-specific feature showing remarkable potential for targeted therapy. This Special Issue serves to highlight and capture the contemporary progress in this field. Relevant resources and people to approach - American Association Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS): web: www.aaps.org; email: (marketing division): [email protected]; (mmeting division): [email protected] - International Association for Pharmaceutical Technology (APV): web: apv-mainz.de; email (managing director): [email protected]; (congresses and trade fairs): [email protected] - International Society of Drug Delivery Sciences and Technology (APGI): web: http://www.apgi.org; email: [email protected]; - The Society of Chemical Industry (SCI): web: www.soci.org; email: [email protected] - Italian society of researchers in pharmaceutical technology (A.D.R.I.T.E.L.F.): web: www-3.unipv.it/adritelf/; email (head): [email protected]; - Italian Chemical Society (SCI): web: www.soc.chim.it; email: [email protected] - Associazione Farmaceutici Industria (AFI): web: http://www.afiweb.it; email:: [email protected] - Società Italiana di Chimica e Scienze Cosmetologiche (SICC): web: www.sicc.tv; mail: [email protected] - Society for biomaterials: web: www.biomaterials.org; email: [email protected] - European Society for Biomaterials (ESB): web: www.esbiomaterials.eu; email: - Società Italiana Biomateriali (SIB): web: www.biomateriali.org; email: [email protected] - Medical Device Manufactures Association (MDMA): web: www.medicaldevices.org; - European Polymer Federaton (EPF): web: www.europolyfed.org; email: [email protected] - Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE): web: www.4spe.org; email: [email protected] - Polymer Processing Society (PPS): web: www.poly-eng.uakron.edu/pps/; email: [email protected]; - American Chinese Pharmaceutical Association; web: www.acpa-rx.org; - Chinese Pharmaceutical Association: web: www.pharmachinaonline.com - Society of Polymer Science, Japan: web: www.spsj.or.jp; email: [email protected]

Annotation The review focuses on the use of pharmaceutical polymer for controlled drug delivery applications. Examples of pharmaceutical polymers and the principles of controlled drug delivery are outlined and applications of polymers for controlled drug delivery are described. The field of controlled drug delivery is vast therefore this review aims to provide an overview of the applications of pharmaceutical polymers. The review is accompanied by approximately 250 abstracts taken from papers and books in the Rapra Polymer Library database, to facilitate further reading on this subject.

Emphasizing four major classes of polymers for drug delivery-water-soluble polymers, hydrogels, biodegradable polymers, and polymer assemblies-this reference surveys efforts to adapt, modify, and tailor polymers for challenging molecules such as poorly water-soluble compounds, peptides/proteins, and plasmid DNA.

Applications of Polymers in Drug Delivery, Second Edition, provides a comprehensive resource for anyone looking to understand how polymeric materials can be applied to current, new, and emerging drug delivery applications. Polymers play a crucial role in modulating drug delivery and have been fundamental in the successful development of many novel drug delivery systems. This book describes the development of polymeric systems, ranging from conventional dosage forms to the most recent smart systems. Regulatory and intellectual property aspects as well as the clinical applicability of polymeric drug delivery systems are also discussed. The chapters are organized by specific delivery route, offering methodical and detailed coverage throughout. This second edition has been thoroughly revised to include the latest developments in the field. This is an essential book for researchers, scientists, and advanced students, in polymer science, drug delivery, pharmacology/pharmaceuticals, materials science, tissue engineering, nanomedicine, chemistry, and biology. In industry, this book supports scientists, R&D, and other professionals, working on polymers for drug delivery applications. Explains how polymers can be prepared and utilized for all major drug delivery routes Presents the latest advances, including drug targeting, polymeric micelles and polymersomes, and the delivery of biologicals and nucleic acid therapeutics Includes appendices with in-depth information on pharmaceutical properties of polymers and regulatory aspects