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Biodegradable polymers as drug delivery systems
284
Imaging
technical assistance and Gisele Hue for her editorial assistance. The gifts of contact lenses by Essilor International are gratefully acknowledged.
surfaces 3 4
5
REFERENCES 1
2
6
Ratner, B.D., Analysis of surface contaminants on intraocular lenses, Arch. Ophthalmol. 1983, 101,
7
1434-1438 Andrade, J.D. and Hlady, V., Protein adsorption and materials biocompatibility: a tutorial review and suggested hypotheses, in Advances in Polymer Sciences (Ed. K. Diisek), Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1986, pp 3-58
8
of hydrophilic
contact
lenses: J. Baguet
et al.
Holly, F.J., Basic aspects of contact lens biocompatibility, Colloids and Surfaces 1984, 10, 343-350 Tripathi, R.C., Tripathi, B.J. and Ruben, M., The pathology of soft contact lens spoilage, Ophthalmology 1980, 87, 365-380 Allansmith, M.R., Immunologic effects of extendedwear contact lenses, Ann. Ophthalmol. 1989,21,465-474 Refojo, M. and Holly, F.J., Tear protein adsorption on hydrogels: a possible cause of contact lens allergy, Contact & Intraocular Lens Med. J. 1977, 1, 23-35 Bohnert, J.L., Horbett, T.A., Ratner, B.D. and Royce, F.H., Adsorption of proteins from artificial tear solutions to contact lens materials, Invest. Optom. Vis. Sci. 1988, 29. 362-373 Binnig, G., Quate, CF. and Gerber, C., Atomic Force Microscope, Phys. Rev. 1986, 56, 930-933
BOOK REVIEW Biodegradable
Polymers
as Drug Delivery
Systems
Editors: M. Chasin and R. Langer Marcel
Dekker,
New York,
1990,
pp. 338, ISBN 0 82 478344
Biodegradable polymers are assuming an increasingly important role in controlled release technology. Such materials are no longer confined to research laboratories but are used in pharmaceutical products which are having a significant clinical impact. The development of these hydrolytically degradable polymers reflects an increasing desire to achieve preprogrammed and controlled drug release, and the need for an alternative mode of administration of a new generation of labile therapeutically active molecules such as peptides and proteins. With this in mind, the editors have compiled a comprehensive series of chapters devoted to the different classes of biodegradable polymers currently under intense study within drug delivery. Most of the chapters are written by the major research workers in this field and, while there are some differences in emphasis, each sets out to review the properties, synthesis and formulations of the range of bioresorbable polymers. Danny Lewis provides a detailed and comprehensive overview of the lactide/glycolide polyester polymers. By far the most intensively studied system, the chapter only falls short on details regarding the polymer synthesis. Bob Langer and his coworkers describe their fascinating work using the polyanhydrides as drug delivery systems. The influence of chemical structure on polymer degradation and drug release kinetics are well described, as are the clinical appliations. Colin Pitt outlines a very thorough Biomaterials
1993, Vol. 14 No. 4
1, $119.50
summary of the biomedical applications of poly[scaprolactone) and its copolymers, and Jorge Heller and coworkers review their significant studies on the properties and potential of the biomedical poly(ortho esters). Harry Allcock describes his and other workers’ studies on the poly(phosphazenes) as new biomedical and bioactive materials. Owing to the limited data available on their application in drug delivery, particular emphasis is placed on polymer synthesis in this chapter. The potential applications of the novel pseudopoly(amino acids) in controlled drug delivery are reviewed by Joachim Kohn and the active research field of natural biodegradable polymers is described in detail by Simon Bogdansky. The final chapter on liposomes, while well-written and informative, does appear to lie outside the remit of this book. An excellent overview of the use of biodegradable polymers in drug delivery, this book is well-referenced and makes generous use of diagrams, tables and chemical structures. Despite the differences in emphasis in certain chapters, I believe it will serve as a valuable reference text for industrial biomedical scientists, advanced undergraduate and postgraduate courses, and academic research teams in the novel drug delivery fields. M. Davies
Imaging
technical assistance and Gisele Hue for her editorial assistance. The gifts of contact lenses by Essilor International are gratefully acknowledged.
surfaces 3 4
5
REFERENCES 1
2
6
Ratner, B.D., Analysis of surface contaminants on intraocular lenses, Arch. Ophthalmol. 1983, 101,
7
1434-1438 Andrade, J.D. and Hlady, V., Protein adsorption and materials biocompatibility: a tutorial review and suggested hypotheses, in Advances in Polymer Sciences (Ed. K. Diisek), Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1986, pp 3-58
8
of hydrophilic
contact
lenses: J. Baguet
et al.
Holly, F.J., Basic aspects of contact lens biocompatibility, Colloids and Surfaces 1984, 10, 343-350 Tripathi, R.C., Tripathi, B.J. and Ruben, M., The pathology of soft contact lens spoilage, Ophthalmology 1980, 87, 365-380 Allansmith, M.R., Immunologic effects of extendedwear contact lenses, Ann. Ophthalmol. 1989,21,465-474 Refojo, M. and Holly, F.J., Tear protein adsorption on hydrogels: a possible cause of contact lens allergy, Contact & Intraocular Lens Med. J. 1977, 1, 23-35 Bohnert, J.L., Horbett, T.A., Ratner, B.D. and Royce, F.H., Adsorption of proteins from artificial tear solutions to contact lens materials, Invest. Optom. Vis. Sci. 1988, 29. 362-373 Binnig, G., Quate, CF. and Gerber, C., Atomic Force Microscope, Phys. Rev. 1986, 56, 930-933
BOOK REVIEW Biodegradable
Polymers
as Drug Delivery
Systems
Editors: M. Chasin and R. Langer Marcel
Dekker,
New York,
1990,
pp. 338, ISBN 0 82 478344
Biodegradable polymers are assuming an increasingly important role in controlled release technology. Such materials are no longer confined to research laboratories but are used in pharmaceutical products which are having a significant clinical impact. The development of these hydrolytically degradable polymers reflects an increasing desire to achieve preprogrammed and controlled drug release, and the need for an alternative mode of administration of a new generation of labile therapeutically active molecules such as peptides and proteins. With this in mind, the editors have compiled a comprehensive series of chapters devoted to the different classes of biodegradable polymers currently under intense study within drug delivery. Most of the chapters are written by the major research workers in this field and, while there are some differences in emphasis, each sets out to review the properties, synthesis and formulations of the range of bioresorbable polymers. Danny Lewis provides a detailed and comprehensive overview of the lactide/glycolide polyester polymers. By far the most intensively studied system, the chapter only falls short on details regarding the polymer synthesis. Bob Langer and his coworkers describe their fascinating work using the polyanhydrides as drug delivery systems. The influence of chemical structure on polymer degradation and drug release kinetics are well described, as are the clinical appliations. Colin Pitt outlines a very thorough Biomaterials
1993, Vol. 14 No. 4
1, $119.50
summary of the biomedical applications of poly[scaprolactone) and its copolymers, and Jorge Heller and coworkers review their significant studies on the properties and potential of the biomedical poly(ortho esters). Harry Allcock describes his and other workers’ studies on the poly(phosphazenes) as new biomedical and bioactive materials. Owing to the limited data available on their application in drug delivery, particular emphasis is placed on polymer synthesis in this chapter. The potential applications of the novel pseudopoly(amino acids) in controlled drug delivery are reviewed by Joachim Kohn and the active research field of natural biodegradable polymers is described in detail by Simon Bogdansky. The final chapter on liposomes, while well-written and informative, does appear to lie outside the remit of this book. An excellent overview of the use of biodegradable polymers in drug delivery, this book is well-referenced and makes generous use of diagrams, tables and chemical structures. Despite the differences in emphasis in certain chapters, I believe it will serve as a valuable reference text for industrial biomedical scientists, advanced undergraduate and postgraduate courses, and academic research teams in the novel drug delivery fields. M. Davies