Drug release polymer chemistry

Yuan W, Li X, Gu S, Cao A, Ren J. Amphiphilic chitosan graft copolymer via combination of ROP, ATRP and click chemistry synthesis, self-assembly, thermosensitivity, fluorescence, and controlled drug release. Polymer. 2011 52 658-66. 

The past two decades have produced a revival of interest in the synthesis of polyanhydrides for biomedical applications. These materials offer a unique combination of properties that includes hydrolytically labile backbone, hydrophobic bulk, and very flexible chemistry that can be combined with other functional groups to develop polymers with novel physical and chemical properties. This combination of properties leads to erosion kinetics that is primarily surface eroding and offers the potential to stabilize macromolecular drugs and extend release profiles from days to years. The microstructural characteristics and inhomogeneities of multi-component systems offer an additional dimension of drug release kinetics that can be exploited to tailor drug release profiles. 

As a basis for hydrogels, hyperbranched polymers [41] can also be used. These polymers can be connected by click chemistry in miniemulsion droplets in order to obtain hyperbranched polyglycerol (HPG)-based particles. Such materials are of great interest for drug release because they are nontoxic [42, 43] and show similar behavior to poly(ethylene glycol)s. 

In contrast to lipids, polymer chemistry allows various chemical modifications to introduce functionality and make polymers responsible to environmental stimuli (pH, temperature, ions, light, etc.). In biosciences, responsiveness to external stimuli is a crucial factor, especially in drug release and construction of biomaterials. 

Septicin antibacterial implant for the treatment of chronic bone infections have been developed [21-24]. The multidisciplinary concept of polymeric implants has expanded to include research on the chemistry and characterization of polymers, experimental and theoretical polymer degradation and drug release, toxicology and metabolism, and research in specific fields of applications such as cancer, proteins and hormones delivery, infectious diseases, and brain disorders. This chapter concentrates on the chemistry and characterization of polyanhydrides with a brief description on recent applications of polyanhydrides. 

The book describes organic and physical chemistry of polymers. This includes the physical properties of polymers, their syntheses, and subsequent use as plastics, elastomers, reagents, and functional materials. The syntheses are characterized according to the chemical mechanism of their reactions, their kinetics, and their scope and utility. Whenever possible, descriptions of industrial-scale preparations are included. Emphasis is placed on reaction parameters both in the preparation of the polymeric materials and in their utilization as reagents. Also, when possible, industrial or trade names of the polymeric materials are included to familiarize the students. This book also describes chemical modifications of polymers. A separate chapter is dedicated to utilization of polymers as reagents, supports for catalyst or for drug release, as electricity conductors, and in photonic materials. 

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