Controlled Drug Delivery Systems

Book excerpt: This book will describe current research on drug delivery systems that encompass four broad categories, namely: routes of delivery, delivery vehicles, payload, and targeting strategies. Where appropriate delivery vehicles and relevant release of specific agents in any of these categories in clinical application will be discussed. All chapters will highlight the translational aspects of the various technologies discussed and will provide insights into the advantages of such delivery systems over current ones in clinical or research use. Each technology reviewed in this book will have significant potential to improve patients' lives by enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of drugs. This book: Discusses the various factors that mitigate effective oral insulin delivery and the current status of research efforts to overcome these barriers along with recent clinical projections Examines the advantages and disadvantages of each drug delivery system Examines the standard method of accomplishing controlled drug release through the incorporation of the drugs within polymeric biomaterials such as capsules and microcapsules as well as other vehicles such as liposomes Discusses various controlled drug delivery systems, including sustained release delivery systems and pulse or delayed release, e.g. to target different regions of the gastrointestinal tract. In view of these wide-ranging technological areas, and the up-to-date discussions of opportunities and challenges associated with these applications, the book should provide readers from technology, materials science, pharmacology and clinical disciplines with very valuable information.