Pharmaceutical products, role polymers

Polymers have played indispensable roles in the preparation of pharmaceutical products. Their applications range widely from material packaging to fabrication of the most sophisticated drug delivery devices. This chapter reviews various polymers used in pharmaceutics based on their applications. 

In extmded products, plasticizers play the usual role of process additive and component which adds elasticity to the product. In addition to these typical roles, plasticizers were found to perform some roles typical of the product into which they were incorporated. In pharmaceutical products, dmg controlled-release properties were regulated with the amount of the plasticizer present in tablet coating. In addition, the type of plasticizer could also change properties of coating by affecting the balance between hydrophobic polymer component and hydrophilic excipients. ... 

The special topics discussed are (i) the biological aspects of heterocyclic compounds, i.e. their biosynthesis, toxicity, metabolism, role in biochemical pathways, and their uses as pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and veterinary products (ii) the use of heterocyclic compounds in polymers, dyestuffs and pigments, photographic chemicals, semiconductors and additives of various kinds and (iii) the use of heterocyclic compounds as intermediates in the synthesis of non-heterocyclic compounds. 

Homogeneous catalysis has an important role to play in enantioselective reactions. To improve product safety, the pharmaceutical industry is producing an increasing number of products in enantiomerically pure form. Other important (future) markets include agrochemicals, polymers and fine chemicals. Although the number of practised processes is quite small the potential is high. 

Major applications of modern TLC comprise various sample types biomedical, pharmaceutical, forensic, clinical, biological, environmental and industrial (product uniformity, impurity determination, surfactants, synthetic dyes) the technique is also frequently used in food science (some 10% of published papers) [446], Although polymer/additive analysis takes up a small share, it is apparent from deformulation schemes presented in Chapter 2 that (HP)TLC plays an appreciable role in industrial problem solving even though this is not reflected in a flood of scientific papers. TLC is not only useful for polymer additive extracts but in particular for direct separations based on dissolutions. 

The contributions that catalysts make to almost every facet of our daily lives cannot be overstated. Virtually every natural resource (cmde oil, coal, biomass, minerals) and every source of energy (petrochemical fuels, nuclear, natural gas, solar) require the use of many catalysts before finished products (fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals, polymers, composites) arrive in our homes, offices and industries [1]. Catalysts also play increasingly important roles in solving some of the most challenging environmental problems that we currently face (global warming, the greenhouse effect, limited natural resources and polluhon) [2]. 

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