Chapter 17 - Biobased materials in nano drug delivery

Abstract

Pharmaceutical industry is researching the potential of biobased materials in drug delivery and patient care. Over the years a wide range of biobased industrial products and technologies have emerged. Biopolymers are biomolecules that are made up of monomeric units that are covalently bound and result in macromolecule with new set of charectersisticscharacteristics. Biobased materials include a vast range of products ranging from cellulose fibers (fiber produced from cellulose) to casein (derived from milk) to zein (natural biopolymer) to bioplastic (derived from any living matter, e.g.: polylactic acid, gelatin, chitosan, pullulan, hyaluronic acid, etc.). The properties of biopolymers vary from one another. This can be used to the advantage and can be employed in designing a unique delivery system. Such delivery systems must address the needs such as improving drug delivery and minimize invasive techniques and provide better treatment to patient. When various polymers are linked they result in copolymers. Such copolymeric system can be utilized to over limitation delivery system formulated by using a single (one type of) polymer. The chapter focuses on properties, existing delivery systems formulated by employing biopolymers, their limitations and ways to improve the polymeric properties of delivery system.