Biodegradable Polymers and their Role in Drug Delivery Systems

Abstract

Biodegradable polymers are currently limited in their application in engineering of soft tissues because they are too stiff and incompliant. Biodegradable elastomers overcome these limitations; they have ability to recover from multiple deformations. Citric Acid based Biodegradable Polymers (CABEs) are a family of elastomers that have been recently developed. Further developments in this area are still needed but they provide a promising new material that can be used for drug delivery systems.

Diclofenac Embedded in Silk Fibroin Fibers as a Drug Delivery System

“…Naturally derived biopolymers, such as gelatin, alginates, collagen and cellulose, offer an attractive alternative to synthetic polymers and are currently under investigation for their use in drug delivery formulations [2]. Since most of these polymers tend to have relatively high dissolution rates in aqueous media, batch-to-batch variability and sourcing-related issues, the development of protein-based formulation must offer tunable sustained release kinetics and enhanced product stability from a reliable source and a well-characterized starting material.…”

Health care-associated infections: Controlled delivery of cationic antiseptics from polymeric excipients

“…These problems may be effectively overcome by the use of controlled drug delivery systems, releasing the active principle slowly during time, thus allowing a better predictability and reproducibility of its concentration in the targeted area. Due to this higher control, an overall reduced amount of active principle in the final formulation is often required, together with less administrations, leading to an improved compliance for the patient 44,45 . This represents the goal motivating the development of delivery systems acting as antiseptic excipients for topical treatment, such as wound management.…”

Polymeric nanocarriers in targeted drug delivery systems: A review

“…103 In the first one, the polymers and their properties have been elaborately investigated. 9,104 However, in addition to whatever are favorable for the first one, in the second one, another property is seems to be considered, erosion of the…”

“…The field of targeted drug delivery is divided into two categories, which have been vastly discussed in the few recent decades, the systematic and localized controlled drug delivery systems 103 . In the first one, the polymers and their properties have been elaborately investigated 9,104 . However, in addition to whatever are favorable for the first one, in the second one, another property is seems to be considered, erosion of the outer surface of the polymeric system in order to first perform a thorough controlled release job and second being degraded over time.…”