Polyhydroxyalkanoates and their potential in controlled-release drug delivery systems: Biomedical applications and factors affecting the drug release

Thiago Caon, Nathalie Berezina, Carol Sze Ki Lin, Farayde Matta Fakhouri, Silvia Maria Martelli

Research output: Chapters, Conference Papers, Creative and Literary WorksRGC 12 - Chapter in an edited book (Author)peer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Controlled-release systems have shown several additional advantages over conventional dosage forms, since they are able to improve the temporal and spatial distribution of drugs in the body, reducing the drug degradation under specific physiological conditions and also to improve patient compliance. Due to the high degree of polymerization, biodegradability and biocompatibility characteristics, highly crystalline structure and water insolubility, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) have received special attention as biomaterials for the preparation of controlled release systems. Depending on the application requirements, different PHAs can be either blended, or have their surfaces modified or combined with other polymers, enzymes or even inorganic materials in order to further improve their mechanical properties or biocompatibility. In this sense, this chapter emphasizes the main physico-chemical processes influencing the drug release rate form controlled release systems so that formulations can be more easily optimized to the intended application, and chemical modifications from polymers may be purposed efficiently.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationPolyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs): Biosynthesis, Industrial Production and Applications in Medicine
PublisherNova Science Publishers
Pages219-236
ISBN (Print)9781633216594, 9781633216228
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jul 2014

Research Keywords

  • Drug delivery
  • PHAs
  • Physico-chemical properties

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