14 - Bioinspired polymeric carriers for drug delivery applications

Abstract

The high-tech advancements in polymer science offer notable potentialities which led to their exploration as a novel carrier in drug delivery systems (DDS). This chapter aimed to extend the current knowledge in the field of polymeric materials at large and bioinspired polymeric carriers for drug delivery applications in particular. With the ever increasing scientific knowledge, social awareness, and legislative authorities, people are more concerned about the efficacy of the drugs. To date, various types of DDS have been developed in different geometries using synthetic polymers, natural polymers, or both. Owing to the many issues linked with synthetic polymers, there has been increasing research interest in bioinspired polymeric carriers due to their potential as an alternative to the traditional synthetic counterparts. Furthermore, their unique structural and physiochemical characteristics including nontoxicity, biocompatibility, comparable biodegradability, as well as adjustable thermomechanical and controllable features are of supreme interests that have raised their applications in the medical world as novel drug delivery vehicles. The key objective of this potent drug delivery science is to provide a better quality of life to the patients, more specifically in a secure way by avoiding and limiting drug abuse, or severe adverse effects of some in the practice of traditional approaches. Research is underway around the globe to engineer novel drug delivery vehicles using numerous polymeric carriers and processing strategies. Following are the pinpoints that must be taken into account prior to design of DDS, that is, (1) carrier surface functionalities, (2) size, (3) flexibility, (4) drug loading efficacy, (5) control release, (6) release time, and (7) target efficiency, among others. In summary, this chapter comprises different bioinspired polymers including polyhydroxyalkanoates, chitosan, keratin, and their valorization for DDS. Detailed information is also summarized on various geometries from each material and their potentialities as potent carriers for DDS.