Implantable drug carriers

Dendrimers (5-50 nm), branched structure allows to link labels, probes, and drugs individually for drug carrier, implanted sensors, and medical devices ... 

Biostable polymers have been chosen for use in the majority of DES that are marketed or in clinical development. The main attractiveness of biostable polymers is their physical stability, inertness toward the drug, and predictable drug kinetics. In Cypher, a blend of poly(ethylene-co-butyl methacrylate) (PEVAc/PBMA) is used as the drug carrier. This hydrophobic polymer, along with additional polymer process steps, effectively controls the release of sirolimus, eluting 80% of the drug over 30 days after implantation. In the case of Taxus, atri-block copolymer of styrene-isobutylene-styrene (SIBS) is used as the hydrophobic polymer matrix that releases 10% of incorporated paclitaxel in the first 30 days (20). 

Soft tissue engineering and implants, absorbable sutures, wound dressings, drug delivery Cell encapsulation and drug delivery Oligomeric drug carriers, polyelectrolyte complexes for cell encapsulation... 

Drug delivery is covered more adequately, with a variety of MeSH terms including drug delivery systems, drug carriers, and infusion pumps, which has narrower terms such as infusion pumps, implantable, and insulin infusion systems. 

Critical Test Methods for Implants and Drug Carriers.154... 

Multiple uses of poly(lactic add), poly(glycolic acid) homopolymers, and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) copolymers have been described including sutures, vascular grafts, drug carriers, and scaffolds for tissue engineering (discussed below). This is due in part to the FDA approval of these polymers for use as implantable materials. 

The success of a tissue engineering scaffold or a drug carrier depends mainly on its surface properties. The surface of a polymeric biomaterial is defined with respect to the biomedical application and the host tissue environment in which the material is intended to perform. Biocompatibility of a polymer implant is directly related to its surface properties. A polymer implant with rough surface accelerates thrombus... 

Table 10.1 represents the polymers which are used in medical devices. They include both synthetic non-biodegradable and biodegradable polymers. They are mainly used to produce various medical devices such as implants, drug carriers, protective packaging materials, and healthcare items [12]. 

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