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Biomaterial Science and Biocompatibility
Journal of Controlled Release 71 (2001) 351–355 www.elsevier.com / locate / jconrel
Book reviews Polymers of ‘‘Geometrical Beauty’’ Star and Hyperbranched Polymers, Vol. 53, Edited by Munmaya K. Mishra and Shiro Kobayashi, Marcel Dekker, 1999, $175.00, 360 pages.
Biomaterial Science and Biocompatibility, Frederick H. Silver and David L. Christiansen (eds.), Springer-Verlag, New York, 1999, 342 pages, $79.95, ISBN 0-387-98711-8.
This book is Volume 53 in the Plastics Engineering Series edited by Donald Hudgen and published by Dekker. It deals with the area of rapidly developing star and hyperbranched polymers, to include dendrimers. The book is in two parts. The first, and major part, deals with the various design strategies for synthesis, to include anionic, group transfer, living cationic, transition metal catalysis, methods of polymerisation. Two chapters are devoted to the preparation of dendrimers by the alternative ‘‘convergent’’ and ‘‘divergent’’ methods. The second part of the book describes the characterisation of these polymers, mainly focussing on solution properties such as viscosity. It is claimed that the biological activities and ‘‘substrate-holding properties’’ of the polymer molecule are included in the volume but detail is hard to find. Those interested in developing new polymer systems for drug delivery and controlled release will find this book written by experts in the polymer field of value but will need to go elsewhere to discover essential information on toxicity, biodegradation and potential applications.
With the rapidly growing interest in new multidisciplinary approaches to restore, maintain, or improve tissue and organ function, better known as ‘‘tissue engineering’’, the need for an introductory textbook has become very obvious. The purpose of this book has been defined by the authors to provide a common denominator for all the scientific disciplines involved ranging from material aspects to clinical application. The understanding of complicated biological reactions following the implantation of foreign materials into the human body is still far from comprehensive, therefore, many issues discussed in this book are subject of intensive research efforts and not established knowledge typical for textbooks. In the introductory chapters structure and (mechanical) properties of soft and hard tissues, biological macromolecules and synthetic materials are discussed, with the intention to provide sufficient information allowing the design of new materials which mimic more closely natural tissues. While structural aspects of cells, tissues and organs are treated in a rather cursory manner, which will probably disappoint the biologically oriented ‘‘biomaterials scientist’’, the detailed discussion of biological macromolecules highlighting the importance of structural proteins for biological form and function is very useful. The effect of secondary and supramolecular structures of a wide variety of proteins are presented ranging from collagen as an example of an extracellular matrix molecule to actin / myosin representing macromolecules transmitting force to cells. Structure and properties of synthetic materials are discussed under the headings polymers, metals and ceramics. Testing of mechanical prop-
S.S. Davis School of Pharmaceutical Sciences University of Nottingham University Park Nottingham NG7 2RD UK PII: S0168-3659( 01 )00239-5
0168-3659 / 01 / $ – see front matter 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
352
Book reviews / Journal of Controlled Release 71 (2001) 351 – 355
erties is extensively described, however I wonder whether a graduate student with a background in biology will be able to follow the discussion without resorting to additional textbooks. A very brief, and in my opinion superficial, description of histological properties of different tissues concludes this section. Various methods for determining molecular weight, aggregation (self-assembly) and mechanical properties of macromolecules are then discussed using collagen as an example. This approach reflects the preference of the authors due to their long standing experience in this field of research, however neglects more recent developments in characterizing macromolecules. Response to tissue injury and wound healing are then discussed as core issues for the understanding of interactions between foreign material and the host. The way in which the material is presented is a little bit confusing because elementary facts of biochemistry, cell and molecular biology are mixed with complicated biological pathways. The interested reader is frequently left alone with an uncritical enumeration of possible factors and effects without direct connection to the subjects biomaterials and / or biocompatibility. The final chapters cover tissue engineering and pathobiological responses to implants highlighting the problematic issues around injectable silicone breast implants, inflammation induced by wear particles in hip and knee prostheses, and restenosis after vascular stenting. These examples make very interesting case studies for the use of implanted materials and their clinical use. In the case of tissue engineering artificial skin, replacement of cartilage / bone and liver tissue engineering are presented. Again very suitable examples for more detailed course work. The book is intended for graduate students and biomaterials scientists entering the field and the authors wanted to present an overview covering all the information necessary for an understanding of biocompatibility in one text. This goal seems to be very ambitious and I suspect that for most novices to the field of biocompatibility more than one textbook will be necessary to cover the basics. The book has also several weak-points which should be pointed out. It is difficult to understand why a textbook that carries ‘‘biocompatibility’’ in its title does not contain a single definition of this term
nor a hint in the index. Strategies and guidelines for biocompatibility testing of biomaterials have been omitted for unclear reasons. Biodegradable biomaterials and their biocompatibility are also not included in this text. Finally the latest references for suggested reading are from 1996, the majority dates back to the 80s and earlier. In a rapidly developing field such biomaterials and biocompatibility this can be problematic. Although the aim of a ‘‘one source textbook’’, was too ambitious, the book may be worth reading and having for those biomaterials scientists with a strong interest in collagen. Thomas Kissel Philipps University Marburg Department of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmacy 35032 Marburg Germany PII: S0168-3659( 01 )00240-1
Handbook of Pharmaceutical Excipients, Third Edition, Arthur H. Kibbe (ed.), Pharmaceutical Press, London, 2000, 665 pp. Since the appearance of the first edition, the Handbook of Pharmaceutical Excipients has become a book of paramount importance for people working in the field of pharmaceutical technology and formulation. It can be definitely affirmed that this is one of the books that must be present in every pharmaceutical bookshelf. In fact, this book provides a large amount of very important information concerning many aspects of excipients characteristics and use. In particular, each material is described in detail in a single monograph that reports identification items such as chemical and non proprietary name, synonyms, formula and functional category along with pharmacopeial specifications and typical properties. The method of manufacture, the stability and storage conditions are taken into account as well. Safety and handling precautions are also described. In each monograph, the definition of the pharmaceutical applications and the detailed description of
Book reviews Polymers of ‘‘Geometrical Beauty’’ Star and Hyperbranched Polymers, Vol. 53, Edited by Munmaya K. Mishra and Shiro Kobayashi, Marcel Dekker, 1999, $175.00, 360 pages.
Biomaterial Science and Biocompatibility, Frederick H. Silver and David L. Christiansen (eds.), Springer-Verlag, New York, 1999, 342 pages, $79.95, ISBN 0-387-98711-8.
This book is Volume 53 in the Plastics Engineering Series edited by Donald Hudgen and published by Dekker. It deals with the area of rapidly developing star and hyperbranched polymers, to include dendrimers. The book is in two parts. The first, and major part, deals with the various design strategies for synthesis, to include anionic, group transfer, living cationic, transition metal catalysis, methods of polymerisation. Two chapters are devoted to the preparation of dendrimers by the alternative ‘‘convergent’’ and ‘‘divergent’’ methods. The second part of the book describes the characterisation of these polymers, mainly focussing on solution properties such as viscosity. It is claimed that the biological activities and ‘‘substrate-holding properties’’ of the polymer molecule are included in the volume but detail is hard to find. Those interested in developing new polymer systems for drug delivery and controlled release will find this book written by experts in the polymer field of value but will need to go elsewhere to discover essential information on toxicity, biodegradation and potential applications.
With the rapidly growing interest in new multidisciplinary approaches to restore, maintain, or improve tissue and organ function, better known as ‘‘tissue engineering’’, the need for an introductory textbook has become very obvious. The purpose of this book has been defined by the authors to provide a common denominator for all the scientific disciplines involved ranging from material aspects to clinical application. The understanding of complicated biological reactions following the implantation of foreign materials into the human body is still far from comprehensive, therefore, many issues discussed in this book are subject of intensive research efforts and not established knowledge typical for textbooks. In the introductory chapters structure and (mechanical) properties of soft and hard tissues, biological macromolecules and synthetic materials are discussed, with the intention to provide sufficient information allowing the design of new materials which mimic more closely natural tissues. While structural aspects of cells, tissues and organs are treated in a rather cursory manner, which will probably disappoint the biologically oriented ‘‘biomaterials scientist’’, the detailed discussion of biological macromolecules highlighting the importance of structural proteins for biological form and function is very useful. The effect of secondary and supramolecular structures of a wide variety of proteins are presented ranging from collagen as an example of an extracellular matrix molecule to actin / myosin representing macromolecules transmitting force to cells. Structure and properties of synthetic materials are discussed under the headings polymers, metals and ceramics. Testing of mechanical prop-
S.S. Davis School of Pharmaceutical Sciences University of Nottingham University Park Nottingham NG7 2RD UK PII: S0168-3659( 01 )00239-5
0168-3659 / 01 / $ – see front matter 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
352
Book reviews / Journal of Controlled Release 71 (2001) 351 – 355
erties is extensively described, however I wonder whether a graduate student with a background in biology will be able to follow the discussion without resorting to additional textbooks. A very brief, and in my opinion superficial, description of histological properties of different tissues concludes this section. Various methods for determining molecular weight, aggregation (self-assembly) and mechanical properties of macromolecules are then discussed using collagen as an example. This approach reflects the preference of the authors due to their long standing experience in this field of research, however neglects more recent developments in characterizing macromolecules. Response to tissue injury and wound healing are then discussed as core issues for the understanding of interactions between foreign material and the host. The way in which the material is presented is a little bit confusing because elementary facts of biochemistry, cell and molecular biology are mixed with complicated biological pathways. The interested reader is frequently left alone with an uncritical enumeration of possible factors and effects without direct connection to the subjects biomaterials and / or biocompatibility. The final chapters cover tissue engineering and pathobiological responses to implants highlighting the problematic issues around injectable silicone breast implants, inflammation induced by wear particles in hip and knee prostheses, and restenosis after vascular stenting. These examples make very interesting case studies for the use of implanted materials and their clinical use. In the case of tissue engineering artificial skin, replacement of cartilage / bone and liver tissue engineering are presented. Again very suitable examples for more detailed course work. The book is intended for graduate students and biomaterials scientists entering the field and the authors wanted to present an overview covering all the information necessary for an understanding of biocompatibility in one text. This goal seems to be very ambitious and I suspect that for most novices to the field of biocompatibility more than one textbook will be necessary to cover the basics. The book has also several weak-points which should be pointed out. It is difficult to understand why a textbook that carries ‘‘biocompatibility’’ in its title does not contain a single definition of this term
nor a hint in the index. Strategies and guidelines for biocompatibility testing of biomaterials have been omitted for unclear reasons. Biodegradable biomaterials and their biocompatibility are also not included in this text. Finally the latest references for suggested reading are from 1996, the majority dates back to the 80s and earlier. In a rapidly developing field such biomaterials and biocompatibility this can be problematic. Although the aim of a ‘‘one source textbook’’, was too ambitious, the book may be worth reading and having for those biomaterials scientists with a strong interest in collagen. Thomas Kissel Philipps University Marburg Department of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmacy 35032 Marburg Germany PII: S0168-3659( 01 )00240-1
Handbook of Pharmaceutical Excipients, Third Edition, Arthur H. Kibbe (ed.), Pharmaceutical Press, London, 2000, 665 pp. Since the appearance of the first edition, the Handbook of Pharmaceutical Excipients has become a book of paramount importance for people working in the field of pharmaceutical technology and formulation. It can be definitely affirmed that this is one of the books that must be present in every pharmaceutical bookshelf. In fact, this book provides a large amount of very important information concerning many aspects of excipients characteristics and use. In particular, each material is described in detail in a single monograph that reports identification items such as chemical and non proprietary name, synonyms, formula and functional category along with pharmacopeial specifications and typical properties. The method of manufacture, the stability and storage conditions are taken into account as well. Safety and handling precautions are also described. In each monograph, the definition of the pharmaceutical applications and the detailed description of