Functional Hydrogels In Drug Delivery

The book deals with the synthesis and characterization of hydrogels specifically used as drug delivery systems. Each chapter includes the most recent updates about the different starting materials employed and the improvement of their physicochemical and biological properties to synthetize high performing carriers for specific uses.

The book deals with the synthesis and characterization of hydrogels specifically used as drug delivery systems. Each chapter includes the most recent updates about the different starting materials employed and the improvement of their physicochemical and biological properties to synthetize high performing carriers for specific uses.

This book introduces readers to the latest advances in hydrogel biomaterials, mainly focusing on the emerging areas of synthetic and biopolymer hydrogels formed through specially designed chemical or physical crosslinking, and the cyclodextrin-based host-guest supramolecular self-assembly, for cell encapsulation, cell expansion, cell differentiation and tissue repair, stem cell culture, and cellular therapy and drug delivery applications. The book was written by experts at the forefront of these interdisciplinary areas and is intended for all researchers working in the fields of biomaterials and biomedical engineering, as well as medical professions. Jun Li is a Professor at the Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore. Yoshihito Osada is a Professor at RIKEN Advanced Science Institute, Japan. Justin Cooper-White is a Professor at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, Australia.

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]

From the Authors' Preface The advances made in the area of controlled drug delivery during the last two decades are remarkable ....Of the many polymeric materials, biodegradable hydrogels present unique advantages and opportunities in the development of ...delivery devices....We have undertaken the challenge of putting together information relevant to biodegradable hydrogels in one place. This book covers the mechanisms of biodegradation, types of biodegradable hydrogels,chemical and physical gels, chemical and enzymatic degradation, and examples of biodegradable drug delivery systems.

This book explores the potential of hydrogels as a multiutility system and their benefits (biocompatibility, degradability, and supporting scaffolds) for a wide range of applications in diagnostics and therapeutics. It also discusses the future prospects and challenges facing hydrogels. A wide variety of smart hydrogels (conducting, stimuli responsive, and others) with possible biomedical applications are elaborated. The book demonstrates the effectiveness of hydrogels in diagnostics of diseases in various in vivo and in vitro environments and highlights the engineering/functionalization of hydrogels for everyday drug dosage as an efficient drug carrier, scaffold, and sensing application. Explores the potential of hydrogels as a multifunctional system and their benefits, particularly for biomedical applications in diagnostics as well as therapeutics. Highlights the designing and engineering of hydrogels for everyday drug dosage and possible functionalization to fabricate an efficient drug carrier. Examines the significance of biopolymer-based hydrogels and their responsiveness in different physiological fluids. Demonstrates the effectiveness of hydrogels in diagnostics of diseases in various in,vivo and in,vitro environments. Presents challenges associated with the hydrogels and discusses possible in-hand modifications at length. Dr. Anujit Ghosal worked in the School of Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, India. Currently, he is affiliated with the School of Life Sciences, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, PRC. Dr. Ghosal researches in biochemistry, polymer chemistry, and nanotechnology. He has been the recipient of prestigious fellowships throughout his research career. His research ability is proven by his published peer-reviewed research and review articles and contributed book chapters. Dr. Ajeet Kaushik works as an assistant professor of chemistry and is exploring advanced electrochemical sensing systems and nanomedicine for personalized health wellness at the Department of Natural Sciences of the Division of Science, Arts, and Mathematics at Florida Polytechnic University, Lakeland, US. He is the recipient of various reputed awards for his service in the area of nanobiotechnology for health care. His excellent research credentials are reflected by his four edited books, 100 international research peer-reviewed publications, and three patents in the area of nanomedicine and smart biosensors for personalized health care.

Thanks to their unique properties, chitosan and chitosan-based materials have numerous applications in the field of biomedicine, especially in drug delivery. This book examines biomedical applications of functional chitosan, exploring the various functions and applications in the development of chitosan-based biomaterials. It also describes the chemical structure of chitosan and discusses the relationship between their structure and functions, providing a theoretical basis for the design of biomaterials. Lastly, it reviews chemically modified and composite materials of chitin and chitosan derivatives for biomedical applications, such as tissue engineering, nanomedicine, drug delivery, and gene delivery.