Pharmaceutical uses of polymers

Over the past decade, the use of polymers in drug delivciy systems has increased dramatically, particularly in site-specific or systematic administration of pharmaceutical agents. This timely reference reviews the properties, synthesis, and formulations of a variety of polymers. 

Over the past decade, the use of polymers for the administration of pharmaceutical and agricultural agents has increased dramatically. 

Polycarbophil, poly(acrylic acid) polymers crosslinked with divinyl glycol, is available for bioadhesive or medicinal applications. Carbomers designated with the letter P , e.g. carbomer 971P, are the only pharmaceutical grades of polymer accepted for oral or mucosal contact products. These resins are particularly useful in the production of clear gels. 

This survey of the pharmaceutical aspects of polymers and macromolecules emphasises their use in formulation. It stresses the key features of polymers - their molecular weight distribution and their versatility in terms of their morphology, crystallinity, solubility and performance. 

Brewster ME, Verreck G, Chun 1, RosenblattJ, Mensch J, Van Dijck A, Noppe M, Alien T, Bruining M, and Peeters J. The Use of Polymer-Based Electrospun Nanohbers Containing Amorphous Drug Dispersions in the Delivery of Poorly Water-Soluhle Pharmaceuticals. Die Pharmazie 2004 59 387—391. 

Hitherto, there have also been some reports on the use of polymers containing ionic moieties except for polymeric ILs to functionalize CNTs [127-130]. For instance, Yoshida et al. [128] found that a slightly concentrated solution (20 g/L) of an ionic electrolyte of poly(pyridinium-l,4-diyl-iminocarbony 1-1,4-phenylene-methylene chloride) was most appropriate for stable dispersion of SWCNTs in water to form a SWCNT-containing gel. This ionic polymer, capable to act both as a dispersant and as a gelator, may contribute to the development of a novel hydrogel filled with CNTs for the biological, medical, and pharmaceutical applications. 

In summation, it can be said that the use of polymers and biopolymers is indispensable to modem pharmaceutical production and up-to-date medicinal therapy. This necessitates the thorough and detailed knowledge and experimental investigation of polymers. 

Brewster, M.E., Verreck, G., Chun, I., Rosenblatt, J., Mensch, J., 2004. The use of polymer-based electrospun nanofibres containing amorphous drug dispersions for the delivery of poor water soluble pharmaceuticals. Pharmazie 59, 387—391. 

Valenta, C., Auner, B.G., 2004. The use of polymers for dermal and transdermal delivery. European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics 58, 279—289. 

Water-soluble natural polymers are the groups of polymer synthesized naturally mostly by different plants and lower forms of organism. They occupy a very important portion of the total pharmaceutical application of polymers. Some of the most frequently used polymers under this group are presented with a short description. 

Hydrogels are generally prepared from a polymer chain network, creating a colloidal gel that can have a water content from 70% to almost 100% [120]. Hydrogels can be highly absorbent and permeable [120]. Medical and pharmaceutical uses of hydrogels range from wound... 

The challenge is to purify microbially produced protein-based polymers to adequate levels for use as biomaterials. The pharmaceutical use of microbially prepared insulin requires that impurities be less than 10 parts per million (ppm). Repeated use of the phase separation property for purification results in a... 

Floyd DT, Organo-Modified Silicone Copolymers for Cosmetic Use. In Cosmetic and Pharmaceutical Applications of Polymers (Eds. Gebelein C et al.), Plenum Press, New York, 1999, p. 49. 

Hirano S, Hirochi K, Hayashi K, Mikami T, Tachibana H. Cosmetic and pharmaceutical uses of chitin and chitosan. In Gebelein CG, Cheng TC, Yang VC, eds. Cosmetic and Pharmaceutical Apphcations of Polymers. New York Plenum Press, 1991 95-104. Ananthapadmanabhan KP. Surfactant solutions adsorption and aggregation properties. In Goddard ED, Ananthapadmanabhan KP, eds. Interactions of Surfactants with Polymers and Proteins. Boca Rat. FL CRC Press, 1993 5-58. 

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