Full Description
The advances in biotechnology and molecular biology over recent years have resulted in a large number of novel molecules with the potential to revolutionize the treatment and prevention of disease. However, such potential is severely compromised by significant obstacles to delivery of these drugs in vivo. These obstacles are often so great that effective drug delivery and targeting is now recognized as the key to effective development of many therapeutics. Advanced drug delivery and targeting can offer significant advantages to conventional drugs, such as increased efficiency, convenience, and the potential for line extensions and market expansion. An accessible and easy-to-read textbook, Drug Delivery and Targeting for Pharmacists and Pharmaceutical Scientists is the first book to provide a comprehensive introduction to the principles of advanced drug delivery and targeting, their current applications and potential future developments, including:
*Methods to optimize therapeutic efficacy, and the related commercial implications
*Difficulties with drug absorption, unwanted distribution and premature inactivation / elimination
*Attempts to minimize toxicity or alter immunogenicity
*Methods to achieve rate-controlled drug release and effective drug targeting
*Novel and established routes of delivery
*Use of new generation technologies such as biosensors, microchips, stimuli-sensitive hydrogels and plasmid-based gene therapy
This volume is indispensable for pharmaceutical students, scientists and researchers.
Contents
Drug Delivery: The Basic Concepts. Drug Delivery: Market Perspectives. Advanced Drug Delivery and Targeting: An Introduction. Rate Control in Drug Delivery and Targeting: Fundamentals and Applications to Implantable Systems. Drug targeting Systems: Fundamentals and Applications to Parenteral Drug Delivery. Oral drug Delivery. Oral Trans-Mucosal Drug Delivery. Transdermal Drug Delivery. Nasal Drug Delivery. Pulmonary Drug Delivery. Vaginal Drug Delivery. Opthalmic Drug Delivery. Drug Delivery to the Central Nervous System. Plasmid Based Gene Therapy. Integrating Drug Discovery and Delivery: Creating a Mechanistic Framework for Advanced Drug Delivery. New Generation Technologies.
