Drug delivery systems characteristic features

The amphiphilic nature of the polyester/PHEMA networks provides gels able to swell in both organic and aqueous media, which prompted us to study them as controlled drug delivery systems [114]. The most valuable characteristic feature of these amphiphilic networks is their potential to sustain the drug delivery... 

Selection of drug delivery systems for parenteral and inhaled drugs. This selection should be carried out in cooperation with the physician and nurse taking into account safety features, ease in handling, and cost. It should be individualized according to the patient s characteristics. 

The applications of hydrogels in the production of medical items, resulting materials must have several features, which recommends them non-toxicity, functionability, sterilizability, biocompatibUity [115]. These characteristics are requires for wound dressings, drug delivery systems, transdermal systems, injectable polymers, implants, dental and ophthalmic applications, stimuli-responsive systems, hydrogel hybrid-type organs. 

An interesting feature of current commercial products is that the polymer vehicles available for formulation have been limited to nonionic and anionic materials. The delivery vehicles available included off-the-shelf polymers such as carboxymethylcellulose, soluble starch, hydroxyethyl-cellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, poly(acrylic acid), and polyvinylpyrrolidone, or mixtures thereof. The choice of available polymeric delivery system primarily depends on component compatibility, aesthetics, and efficacy. However, by reliance upon available (off-the-shelf) systems, limitations on bioadhesion, drug bioavailability, contraceptive efficacy, and end-use characteristics has been limited. 

The success of treating tumours, especially solid tumours, by systemic therapy depends on various characteristics of the tumour. Besides the importance of intrinsic drug activity and the potential targets within the tumour cells, drug pharmacokinetics and whole body distribution, site of delivery and the ability of site-specific targeting (affinity) are important features. 

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