Chapter 16 - Biobased materials in drug delivery

Abstract

Biobased materials refer to those materials that are directly obtained from any life form or are indirectly synthesized from biotic sources. Biobased materials have gained attention and become an attractive alternative for traditional nonrenewable resources. The diversity of biobased materials, from natural to synthetic materials, has opened up many opportunities for research and development in the biomedical field. A large number of biobased materials have been explored for their applications in drug delivery systems, tissue engineering, gene delivery, and gene therapy. Biobased materials can directly serve as drug delivery systems or may require combinations with other materials. Biobased materials, being biocompatible, functional, target-specific, nontoxic, sustainable, and durable, can serve as the system of for drug delivery. This chapter will provide an account of the different types of biobased materials with a key focus on their applications in drug delivery.