Controlled‐Release Systems for Biologics

Abstract

It is evident by the progress in new drug delivery technologies that much attention has been devoted toward the way in which biologics are delivered. As shown in this chapter, present efforts in the field of delivery of biologics have accelerated and widened the possibility of their use with therapeutic agents for treatment of various chronic disorders. From the times when achieving a zero‐order release profile was just an imaginary concept and controlled release technology was known only to a few scientists, it has now been established widely and has gained significant applications in variety of fields ranging from gene therapy to tissue engineering.

Natural and Synthetic Polymers as Drug Carriers for Delivery of Therapeutic Proteins

“…1 These therapeutic proteins and peptides have gained considerable interest as they do not have serious side-effects; nevertheless, the major obstacle for the delivery of these therapeutic proteins and peptides is to reach the target site, as a majority of these agents are unstable in gastric environment and may undergo enzymatic degradation; however, many of them have short biological half-lives. 2,3 Hence the development of protein-based therapeutic substances critically requires an effective carrier system, guaranteeing the safe and sustained delivery of therapeutic proteins to the target site. Polymeric-based delivery of therapeutic proteins and peptides has been known to allow delivery of these therapeutic proteins at a controlled rate as per requirement of the treatment, depending upon the disease state.…”