Advances in Polymers for Drug Delivery Systems

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 February 2025 | Viewed by 1825

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Group of Biopolymeric Materials and Composites (GBMC), Campus Universitário, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Rua José Lourenço Kelmer, s/n-São Pedro, Juiz de Fora 36036-900, MG, Brazil
Interests: polymers; drug delivery systems; nanocarriers; hydrogels; micelles; dendrimers; adhesives; cyclodextrins; polyelectrolite multilayers
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Polymeric materials have been widely used in drug delivery systems. Through their application in drug carriers, sustained release systems, and targeted delivery systems, polymeric materials can improve the stability, controlled release, and targeting of drugs, thereby enhancing their therapeutic effects. At the same time, these systems decrease the side effects. In addition, polymer nanocarriers are considered ideal drug delivery materials due to their physicochemical properties such as biodegradability, biocompatibility, water solubility, controlled drug delivery behavior, and storage stability.

Depending on their structure, polymers can be classified as linear polymers, dendritic macromolecules, and hyperbranched polymers. When applied to drug delivery systems, polymers of different structures can be used to carry drugs in a variety of ways based on their respective advantages, including encapsulation of the drug in a reservoir within the polymer coating (reservoir type), embedding the drug into a polymer matrix (monolithic type), carrying the drug through polymer-drug affixation, and introducing a targeting factor to load the drug to a specific disease site. The greatest advantage is the possibility of incorporating drugs with different polarities and characteristics.

This Special Issue aims to provide a platform for academic exchange among scholars working in polymers for drug delivery systems based on micelles, hydrogels, adhesives, cyclodextrins, dendrimers, liposomes, etc. Any original or review articles in this field are welcome.

Dr. Bruno Henrique Vilsinski
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • polymers
  • drug delivery systems
  • micelles
  • hydrogels
  • dendrimers
  • liposomes
  • cyclodextrins
  • polyelectrolyte multilayers

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

26 pages, 8913 KiB  
Article
Preparation and Characterization of Theophylline Controlled Release Matrix System Incorporating Poloxamer 407, Stearyl Alcohol, and Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose: A Novel Formulation and Development Study
by Molham Sakkal, Mosab Arafat, Priya Yuvaraju, Rami Beiram and Salahdein AbuRuz
Polymers 2024, 16(5), 643; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16050643 - 27 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1534
Abstract
Background: Theophylline (THN), a bronchodilator with potential applications in emerging conditions like COVID-19, requires a controlled-release delivery system due to its narrow therapeutic range and short half-life. This need is particularly crucial as some existing formulations demonstrate impaired functionality. This study aims to [...] Read more.
Background: Theophylline (THN), a bronchodilator with potential applications in emerging conditions like COVID-19, requires a controlled-release delivery system due to its narrow therapeutic range and short half-life. This need is particularly crucial as some existing formulations demonstrate impaired functionality. This study aims to develop a new 12-h controlled-release matrix system (CRMS) in the form of a capsule to optimize dosing intervals. Methods: CRMSs were developed using varying proportions of poloxamer 407 (P-407), stearyl alcohol (STA), and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) through the fusion technique. Their in vitro dissolution profiles were then compared with an FDA-approved THN drug across different pH media. The candidate formulation underwent characterization using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis. Additionally, a comprehensive stability study was conducted. Results: In vitro studies showed that adjusting the concentrations of excipients effectively controlled drug release. Notably, the CRMS formulation 15 (CRMS-F15), which was composed of 30% P-407, 30% STA, and 10% HPMC, closely matched the 12 h controlled-release profile of an FDA-approved drug across various pH media. Characterization techniques verified the successful dispersion of the drug within the matrix. Furthermore, CRMS-F15 maintained a consistent controlled drug release and demonstrated stability under a range of storage conditions. Conclusions: The newly developed CRMS-F15 achieved a 12 h controlled release, comparable to its FDA-approved counterpart. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Polymers for Drug Delivery Systems)
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