Polymer-based systems hold great promise for the delivery of genes and drugs, as polymers can be designed and modified to meet new challenges.

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

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.

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.

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

Smart Polymeric Nano-Constructs in Drug Delivery: Concept, Design and Therapeutic Applications provides a thorough discussion of the most state of the art material and polymer exploitations for the delivery of bioactive(s) as well as their current and clinical status. The book enables researchers to prepare a variety of smart drug delivery systems to investigate their properties as well as to discover their uses and applications. The novelty of this approach addresses an existing need of exhaustively understanding the potential of the materials including polymeric drug delivery systems that are smartly designed to deliver bioactive(s) into the body at targeted sites without showing side effects. The book is helpful for those in the health sector, specifically those developing nanomedicine using smart material-based nano-delivery systems. Polymers have unique co-operative properties that are not found with low-molecular-weight compounds along with their appealing physical and chemical properties, constituting the root of their success in drug delivery. Smart Polymeric Nano-Constructs in Drug Delivery: Concept, Design and Therapeutic Applications discusses smart and stimuli responsive polymers applicable in drug delivery, followed detailed information about various concepts and designing of polymeric novel drug delivery systems for treatment of various type of diseases, also discussing patents related to the field. The book helps readers to design and develop novel drug delivery systems based on smart materials for the effective delivery of bioactive that take advantage of recent advances in smart polymer-based strategies. It is useful to those in pharmaceutical sciences and related fields in developing new drug delivery systems. - Provides comprehensive overview of the potential role of polymeric systems in drug delivery - Explores the design, synthesis, and application of different smart material-based delivery systems - Includes fundamental and clinical applications

This book describes 200 bio-polymers, including the most recent and advanced nanotechnology applications. The applications of various bio-medical and other future potential uses are covered and examined in depth. Systematic discussion of current leading natural polymers is also included.