Abstract

BIODEGRADABLE AND BIOINSPIRED POLYMERS FOR PHARMACEUTICAL FORMULATIONS AND DRUG DELIVERY: A BRIEF REVIEW

Abstract

Due to advances in drug delivery technology, excipients are currently included in novel dosage forms to fulfill specific functions and in some cases they directly or indirectly influence the extent and/or rate of drug release and absorption. Since plant polysaccharides comply with many requirements expected of pharmaceutical excipients such as non-toxicity, stability, availability and renewability they are extensively investigated for use in the development of solid oral dosage forms. Polymers have been used as a main tool to control the drug release rate from the formulations. Extensive applications of polymers in drug delivery have been realized because polymers offer unique properties which so far have not been attained by any other materials. Advances in polymer science have led to the development of several novel drug-delivery systems. These newer technological developments include drug modification by chemical means, career based drug delivery and drug entrapment in polymeric matrices or within pumps that are placed in desired bodily compartments. These technical developments in drug delivery/targeting approaches improve the efficacy of drug therapy thereby improve human health. Biodegradable polymers have been widely used in biomedical applications because of their known biocompatibility and biodegradability. In the biomedical area, polymers are generally used as implants and are expected to perform long term service. These improvements contribute to make medical treatment more efficient and to minimize side effects and other types of inconveniences for patients. The present review inform about the various polymers used in pharmaceuticals, their mode of synthesis, their physicochemical parameters and their response to environment for drug release.

Keywords: Poly (amino) acids, Poly-L-glutamic acid, Pseudo poly (amino acids).