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Polymers in medicine and pharmacy
journal of
ELSEVIER
Journal of Controlled Release 42 (1996) 299-302
controlled release
Book reviews
Polymers in Medicine and Pharmacy Editors: Antonios G. Mikos, Kam W. Leong, Michael J. Yaszemski, Janet A. Tamada and Michael L. Radomsky. Materials Research Society, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1995, pp. 208. This book includes many of the papers presented at the symposium on Polymers in Medicine and Pharmacy, held at the 1995 Materials Research Society Spring Meeting, 17-19 April 1995 in San Francisco. The editors and publisher have done an excellent job in getting this volume to press quickly in order to present the latest research results as swiftly as possible. Since this review is being written in February 1996...let's see what the publication time will be for this review. The book is divided into three parts: (i) polymers for orthopaedic and reconstructive surgery, (ii) polymers for drug delivery and tissue engineering, and (iii) synthesis and characterization of biomedical polymers. There are 30 chapters in the book and only four are denoted as invited papers; indicating excellent support from those participating in the symposium to provide chapters for the book. Those chapters from symposium participants are in the usual 4 - 7 page format which falls somewhere between extended abstracts and full research papers. With few exceptions, each chapter dives right to the heart of the research data and provides a good description of the latest research results. If one notices an abundance of Cambridge addresses in the first two sections of this book, it probably reflects past and current associations of the editors of this
volume. The first two sections, while appropriately showing significant work in biodegradable materials, are broad in topics without diluting their information. These chapters provide in vitro and in vivo results while keeping a focus on the materials being used. The chapters in the last section of the book, approximately half of the book, are much more diverse. This is understandable considering the range of polymers which are being considered for biomedical applications. Some topics include enzymemediated oscillatory drug release, tailored viscosity reduction, aspects of polymer erosion, irradiationinduced changes in materials and production of heart valves from glassy polymeric carbon. This reviewer would recommend this book to researchers working with biodegradable materials in controlled release or other aspects of biomaterials science. This book also provides a broad view of possibilities of using other materials as biomaterials, including their modification and biocompatibilities. This book is not for the uninitiated in biomaterials, but should be appropriate for all those who regularly read this journal. Lisa Brannon-Peppas
Biogel Technology, Inc. PO Box 681513 9521 Valparaiso Court Indianapolis IN 46268, USA PII S0168-3659(96)01460-5
ELSEVIER
Journal of Controlled Release 42 (1996) 299-302
controlled release
Book reviews
Polymers in Medicine and Pharmacy Editors: Antonios G. Mikos, Kam W. Leong, Michael J. Yaszemski, Janet A. Tamada and Michael L. Radomsky. Materials Research Society, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1995, pp. 208. This book includes many of the papers presented at the symposium on Polymers in Medicine and Pharmacy, held at the 1995 Materials Research Society Spring Meeting, 17-19 April 1995 in San Francisco. The editors and publisher have done an excellent job in getting this volume to press quickly in order to present the latest research results as swiftly as possible. Since this review is being written in February 1996...let's see what the publication time will be for this review. The book is divided into three parts: (i) polymers for orthopaedic and reconstructive surgery, (ii) polymers for drug delivery and tissue engineering, and (iii) synthesis and characterization of biomedical polymers. There are 30 chapters in the book and only four are denoted as invited papers; indicating excellent support from those participating in the symposium to provide chapters for the book. Those chapters from symposium participants are in the usual 4 - 7 page format which falls somewhere between extended abstracts and full research papers. With few exceptions, each chapter dives right to the heart of the research data and provides a good description of the latest research results. If one notices an abundance of Cambridge addresses in the first two sections of this book, it probably reflects past and current associations of the editors of this
volume. The first two sections, while appropriately showing significant work in biodegradable materials, are broad in topics without diluting their information. These chapters provide in vitro and in vivo results while keeping a focus on the materials being used. The chapters in the last section of the book, approximately half of the book, are much more diverse. This is understandable considering the range of polymers which are being considered for biomedical applications. Some topics include enzymemediated oscillatory drug release, tailored viscosity reduction, aspects of polymer erosion, irradiationinduced changes in materials and production of heart valves from glassy polymeric carbon. This reviewer would recommend this book to researchers working with biodegradable materials in controlled release or other aspects of biomaterials science. This book also provides a broad view of possibilities of using other materials as biomaterials, including their modification and biocompatibilities. This book is not for the uninitiated in biomaterials, but should be appropriate for all those who regularly read this journal. Lisa Brannon-Peppas
Biogel Technology, Inc. PO Box 681513 9521 Valparaiso Court Indianapolis IN 46268, USA PII S0168-3659(96)01460-5