Macromolecular drugs hold the promise of becoming new therapeutics for several major disorders, including cancer and cardiovascular disease. This incredible potential is explored in Macromolecular Drug Delivery, a volume which gives a wide-ranging overview of contemporary methods used in the field, and which addresses the limitations presented by a lack of safe and efficient drug delivery strategies. Chapters offer information on both in vitro and in vivo methods of macromolecular delivery, thus appealing to a broad scientific audience. Composed in the highly successful Methods in Molecular BiologyTM series format, each chapter contains a brief introduction, step-by-step methods, a list of necessary materials, and a Notes section which shares tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Comprehensive and cutting-edge, Macromolecular Drug Delivery offers a platform for interdisciplinary collaboration, which should provide opportunities for new discoveries at the interface between disciplines. Ultimately, this cooperation will lead to the use of macromolecular drugs as novel diagnostic tools and, even more importantly, as a means to revolutionize the way we view and treat diseases.

Macromolecular drugs hold the promise of becoming new therapeutics for several major disorders, including cancer and cardiovascular disease. This incredible potential is explored in Macromolecular Drug Delivery, a volume which gives a wide-ranging overview of contemporary methods used in the field, and which addresses the limitations presented by a lack of safe and efficient drug delivery strategies. Chapters offer information on both in vitro and in vivo methods of macromolecular delivery, thus appealing to a broad scientific audience. Composed in the highly successful Methods in Molecular BiologyTM series format, each chapter contains a brief introduction, step-by-step methods, a list of necessary materials, and a Notes section which shares tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Comprehensive and cutting-edge, Macromolecular Drug Delivery offers a platform for interdisciplinary collaboration, which should provide opportunities for new discoveries at the interface between disciplines. Ultimately, this cooperation will lead to the use of macromolecular drugs as novel diagnostic tools and, even more importantly, as a means to revolutionize the way we view and treat diseases.

An indispensable tool for those working at the front lines of new drug development Written for busy professionals at the forefront of new drug development, Drug Delivery gets readers quickly up to speed on both the principles and latest applications in the increasingly important field of drug delivery. Recent developments in such areas as combinatorial chemistry, proteomics, and genomics have revolutionized researchers' ability to rapidly identify and synthesize new pharmacological compounds. However, delivery-related properties remain a significant reason for clinical trial failures. Bringing together contributions by leading international experts, Drug Delivery covers the entire field in a systematic but concise way. It begins with an in-depth review of key fundamentals, such as physiochemical and biological barriers; drug delivery pathways; metabolism; drug formulation; pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic issues; and more. The remainder of the book is devoted to the systematic examination-including overviews, timely examples, and extensive references-of a host of specific subjects, including: * Receptor-mediated drug delivery * Prodrug delivery approaches * Oral protein and peptide drug delivery * Gene therapy and gene delivery * Ultrasound-mediated drug delivery * Polycationic peptides and proteins in drug delivery * Pulmonary drug delivery * Antibody-directed drug delivery * Efflux transporters in drug excretion * Intellectual property issues in drug delivery

Site-specific drug delivery and targeting attracts much research interest from both academia and industry, but because of the many challenges faced in the development of these systems, only a handful of targeted therapies have successfully made it into clinical practice. Focusing on the delivery technologies that utilize both systemic and local routes of administration, Targeted Delivery of Small and Macromolecular Drugs brings together field experts who summarize current progress and discuss novel ideas currently being explored to overcome these challenges. The contributors discuss the most promising strategies for drug targeting and also examine targeted drug delivery platforms and technologies at various stages of clinical and preclinical development, including: Active targeting Nucleic acid delivery and targeting Intracellular/organelle-specific strategies Prodrug strategies Organ or tissue-specific drug delivery Drug-polymer conjugates and micelles Stimuli-responsive systems The book demonstrates why targeted delivery is one of the most exciting contributions pharmaceutical sciences can make to drug therapy.

Targeting Chronic Inflammatory Lung Diseases Using Advanced Drug Delivery Systems explores the development of novel therapeutics and diagnostics to improve pulmonary disease management, looking down to the nanoscale level for an efficient system of targeting and managing respiratory disease. The book examines numerous nanoparticle-based drug systems such as nanocrystals, dendrimers, polymeric micelles, protein-based, carbon nanotube, and liposomes that can offer advantages over traditional drug delivery systems. Starting with a brief introduction on different types of nanoparticles in respiratory disease conditions, the book then focuses on current trends in disease pathology that use different in vitro and in vivo models. The comprehensive resource is designed for those new to the field and to specialized scientists and researchers involved in pulmonary research and drug development. Explores recent perspectives and challenges regarding the management and diagnosis of chronic respiratory diseases Provides insights into how advanced drug delivery systems can be effectively formulated and delivered for the management of various pulmonary diseases Includes the most recent information on diagnostic methods and treatment strategies using controlled drug delivery systems (including nanotechnology)

Recent and rapid progress in the field of biotechnology has resulted in an increasing number of novel macromolecular drugs with great promise for further advanced research and clinical application. However, the delivery of these macromolecular drugs by routes other than the parenteral route is difficult. The pipeline of macromolecular drugs derived from biotechnology presents a challenging opportunity to develop practical dosage forms that could be dosed via the oral route. Given this, the successful oral delivery of macromolecular drugs presents an enormous opportunity. Oral Delivery of Macromolecular Drugs will provide an overview of the innovative oral delivery technologies that have demonstrated success in human testing and will go on to cite the challenges, strategies, and future trends that are to be expected.