Polymers are fundamental ingredients for numerous drug delivery systems starting from tablets, pellets and other classical formulations and up to the modern advanced nanodelivery systems. Therefore, characterization of physicochemical properties of polymers per se or in a solution is necessary to predict the success of formulation processes on one hand side and on the other to understand the behaviour of dosage forms. The lecture was focused on investigation of mechanisms for successful formation of electrospun nanofibers and on incorporation of model drugs. It is necessary to use complementary techniques for physical characterization of polymer solutions to understand the mechanism of nanofiber formation. Since nanofibers are produced from polymer solution, where jet is elongated within electric field, detailed rheological studies of polymer solutions are of special importance.
COBISS.SI-ID: 3752561
Thermally induced gelling systems have gained enormous attention over the last decade. They consist of hydrophilic homopolymers or block copolymers in water that present a sol at room temperature and form a gel after administration into the body. This article reviews the main types of thermoresponsive polymers, with special focus on decisive hydrogel characteristics, mechanisms of gelation, and biocompatibility. Promising biomedical applications are described with a focus on injectable formulations,which include solubilization of small hydrophobic drugs, controlled release, delivery of labile biopharmaceutics, such as proteins and genes, cell encapsulation, and tissue regeneration. Furthermore, combinations of thermoresponsive hydrogels and various nanocarriers as promising systems for sustained drug delivery are discussed through selected examples from the literature. Finally, there is a brief overview of current progress in nano-sized systems incorporating thermoresponsive properties. The article was due to the importance of the content placed on the ScienceDirect among "Top 25 Hottest Articles" in International Journal of Pharmaceutics, July-Sept-Dec 2014. The link to the source http://top25.sciencedirect.com/subject/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/20/journal/international-journal-of-pharmaceutics/03785173/archive/57/
COBISS.SI-ID: 3672945