Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
6.6
5.0
Journals
Polymers
Sections
Polymers for Controlled Drug Release
share announcement

Polymers for Controlled Drug Release

A topical collection in Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This collection belongs to the section "Polymer Applications".

Viewed by 19452

Editors

Prof. Dr. Alexey L. Iordanskii

E-Mail Website
Collection Editor
N. N. Semenov Federal Research Center for Chemical Physics Academy of Science, 119991 Moscow, Russia
Interests: biodegradable polymers; transport phenomena; electrospun fibers; controlled release; polymer blends; composites; water in macromolecular systems; sorption; gas permeability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Sabu Thomas

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Collection Editor
1. International and Interuniversity Centre for Nano Science and Nano Technology, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam 686560, India
2. Basic Department of Biotechnology, School of Fundamental Biology and Biotechnology, Siberian Federal University, 79 Svobodnyi Av., 660041 Krasnoyarsk, Russia
Interests: nanomaterials; polymer blends; fiber-filled polymer composites; polymer nanocomposites; aging and degradation; pervaporation phenomena; sorption and diffusion; interpenetrating polymer systems; recyclability and reuse of waste plastics and rubbers; elastomer crosslinking; dual porous nanocomposite scaffolds for tissue engineering; polymer nanocomposites for electronic applications; water purification; energy storage
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Topical Collection Information

Dear Colleagues,

Academic and industrial engagement has currently been directed to a required growth in the human lifespan and life quality that is supported by advances in biomedicine, environmental protection, packaging upgrading, etc. The holistic approach to the healthcare therapeutic strategy, innovative packaging development, and eco-friendly material design is based on the creation of conditions for bioactive component release/delivery specifically for drugs in medicine, food-modifying agents in packaging, and pheromones and insecticides in agriculture, correspondingly. Because of the wide implementation of controlled release as the specific phenomenon, it is critical to clearly establish its mechanism and kinetic profile as well as market economic consequences of replacement of traditional medical and packaging formulations by modern polymeric systems, ensuring the prolonged and programmed delivery of bioactive agents. 

A series of significant contemplations are outlined in this Collection to establish spatial–temporary patterns for bioactive entities loaded in polymer vehicles of synthetic and bio-based origin. In a release systems design, one of the most important unit operations is the size reduction to the nanoscale and molecular levels. In biomedicine, the final object of drug-controlled delivery application comprises a spatial–temporary pattern setting to carry out the most favorable treatment of patients. Novel miniature therapeutic systems with drug targeting characteristics have irrefutable advantages such as enhanced bioavailability, reduced toxicity, tailored release profiles, improved stability, and others, which take precedence over regular dosage forms. The variety of geometrical forms for polymer therapeutic systems at the submicron levels, namely, spheres, Janus particles, ellipsoid-like beds, rods, ribbon and cylindrical fibers, slabs, and the like, creates a great opportunity to set up original kinetic release profiles combined with improved bio-accessibility for cells and tissues. The next step after nanotechnology engineering includes the principles of polymer science, which coherently seek a relationship between structure–morphology polymer features and drug diffusion transport characteristics. Modeling and experimental studies of transport phenomena should assist the development of next-generation drug release therapeutic systems.

In this collection, it is our aim to provide Polymers MDPI readers with the latest developments in the design, characterization, and applications of controlled release systems with different composition and geometry.

Topics include but are not limited to the following list:

  • The fundamental principles and breakthrough innovations of controlled release/delivery as the specific phenomenon occurring in stable (petrol-based) and biodegradable (bio-based) polymers;
  • Micro engineering and nanotechnology of polymeric systems procuring the controlled release;
  • Elaboration of controlled release micro- and nano-arrays with diverse geometry such as embedded dots, conjugated dendrimers, loaded particles, fibers, slabs;
  • Structure–morphology peculiarities of homogeneous, heterogeneous, and multilayered polymer composites as the factor of release profile regulation;
  • The impact of the balance of hydrophilicity–hydrophobicity on the mechanism of controlled release for drugs and polymer matrices, and the problem of poor-dissolved drugs with low-dosage activity;
  • Specific performance of drug-controlled release systems for gels, elastic, and glassy-state polymer constructs for vehicles performing in different areas of medicine, namely, in ophthalmology, reconstructive surgery, cardiovascular therapy; social and orphan decease treatment, dentistry, neurology, and others;
  • Controlled release for tissue engineering, growth factor delivery from ultrathin fibers;
  • Controlled release for food packaging as the fundament of active packaging development; 
  • Controlled release for environmentally benign areas;
  • Modeling and computer data operations to create novel polymer release systems with bioactive agent temporal–spatial patterning in the human body, active barrier polymers, and the environment.

Prof. Dr. Alexey Iordanskii
Prof. Dr. Sabu Thomas
Collection Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the collection website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Published Papers (7 papers)

Download All Papers

2023

Jump to: 2022, 2021, 2020

44 pages, 12474 KiB  
Review
Recent Advances in Nanoparticle Development for Drug Delivery: A Comprehensive Review of Polycaprolactone-Based Multi-Arm Architectures
by Ridouan El Yousfi, Mohamed Brahmi, Mohammed Dalli, Nafea Achalhi, Omar Azougagh, Abdesselam Tahani, Rachid Touzani and Abderrahmane El Idrissi
Polymers 2023, 15(8), 1835; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15081835 - 10 Apr 2023
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2112
Abstract
Controlled drug delivery is a crucial area of study for improving the targeted availability of drugs; several polymer systems have been applied for the formulation of drug delivery vehicles, including linear amphiphilic block copolymers, but with some limitations manifested in their ability to [...] Read more.
Controlled drug delivery is a crucial area of study for improving the targeted availability of drugs; several polymer systems have been applied for the formulation of drug delivery vehicles, including linear amphiphilic block copolymers, but with some limitations manifested in their ability to form only nanoaggregates such as polymersomes or vesicles within a narrow range of hydrophobic/hydrophilic balance, which can be problematic. For this, multi-arm architecture has emerged as an efficient alternative that overcame these challenges, with many interesting advantages such as reducing critical micellar concentrations, producing smaller particles, allowing for various functional compositions, and ensuring prolonged and continuous drug release. This review focuses on examining the key variables that influence the customization of multi-arm architecture assemblies based on polycaprolactone and their impact on drug loading and delivery. Specifically, this study focuses on the investigation of the structure–property relationships in these formulations, including the thermal properties presented by this architecture. Furthermore, this work will emphasize the importance of the type of architecture, chain topology, self-assembly parameters, and comparison between multi-arm structures and linear counterparts in relation to their impact on their performance as nanocarriers. By understanding these relationships, more effective multi-arm polymers can be designed with appropriate characteristics for their intended applications. Full article
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

2022

Jump to: 2023, 2021, 2020

16 pages, 2976 KiB  
Article
L-Arginine-Derived Polyamidoamine Oligomers Bearing at Both Ends β-Cyclodextrin Units as pH-Sensitive Curcumin Carriers
by Sofia Treccani, Jenny Alongi, Amedea Manfredi, Paolo Ferruti, Roberta Cavalli, Giuseppina Raffaini and Elisabetta Ranucci
Polymers 2022, 14(15), 3193; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14153193 - 05 Aug 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1675
Abstract
The aza-Michael polyaddition of L-arginine and N,N′-methylene-bis-acrylamide gives the biocompatible and easily cell-internalized polyamidoamine ARGO7. By controlled synthesis, two ARGO7 oligomers, namely a trimer and a pentamer, bearing acrylamide terminal units, were obtained as precursors of the β-cyclodextrin-end-terminated oligomers P3 [...] Read more.
The aza-Michael polyaddition of L-arginine and N,N′-methylene-bis-acrylamide gives the biocompatible and easily cell-internalized polyamidoamine ARGO7. By controlled synthesis, two ARGO7 oligomers, namely a trimer and a pentamer, bearing acrylamide terminal units, were obtained as precursors of the β-cyclodextrin-end-terminated oligomers P3 and P5, which have been shown to encapsulate curcumin at both pH 7.4 and 4.5. After lyophilization, P3- and P5-curcumin complexes gave stable water solutions. The apparent solubility of encapsulated curcumin was in the range 20–51 μg mL−1, that is, three orders of magnitude higher than the water solubility of free curcumin (0.011 μg mL−1). The drug release profiles showed induction periods both at pH levels 4.5 and 7.4, suggesting a diffusive release mechanism, as confirmed by kinetic studies. The release rate of curcumin was higher at pH 7.4 than at pH 4.5 and, in both cases, it was higher for the P5 complex. Encapsulated curcumin was more photostable than the free drug. Molecular mechanics and molecular dynamics simulations explain at atomistic level the formation of aggregates due to favorable van der Waals interactions. The drug molecules interact with the external surface of carriers or form inclusion complexes with the β-cyclodextrin cavities. The aggregate stability is higher at pH 4.5. Full article
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

19 pages, 7350 KiB  
Article
Development of Statistically Optimized Chemically Cross-Linked Hydrogel for the Sustained-Release Delivery of Favipiravir
by Ahmad Salawi, Arooj Khan, Muhammad Zaman, Tehseen Riaz, Hafsa Ihsan, Muhammad Hammad Butt, Waqar Aman, Rahima Khan, Imtiaz Majeed, Yosif Almoshari and Meshal Alshamrani
Polymers 2022, 14(12), 2369; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14122369 - 11 Jun 2022
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 1919
Abstract
Nowadays, the use of statistical approaches, i.e., Box–Bhenken designs, are becoming very effective for developing and optimizing pharmaceutical drug formulations. In the current work, a Box–Bhenken design was employed using Design Expert version 11 to develop, evaluate, and optimize a hydrogel-based formulation for [...] Read more.
Nowadays, the use of statistical approaches, i.e., Box–Bhenken designs, are becoming very effective for developing and optimizing pharmaceutical drug formulations. In the current work, a Box–Bhenken design was employed using Design Expert version 11 to develop, evaluate, and optimize a hydrogel-based formulation for sustained release of an antiviral drug, i.e., favipiravir. The hydrogels were prepared using the free radical polymerization technique. β-Cyclodextrin (β-CD), N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA), acrylic acid (AA), and potassium per sulfate (KPS) were used as oligomer, crosslinker, monomer, and initiator, respectively. Three variables, including β-CD (X1), MBA (X2), and AA (X3) were used at various concentrations for the preparation of hydrogels, followed by evaluation of a sol–gel fraction, swelling, porosity, chemical compatibilities, in vitro drug release, and entrapment efficiency. The results of the studies revealed that the degree of swelling was pH dependent, the best swelling being at pH 7.2 (1976%). On the other hand, for the low sol fraction of 0.2%, the reasonable porosity made the hydrogel capable of loading 99% favipiravir, despite its hydrophobic nature. The maximum entrapment efficiency (99%) was observed in optimized hydrogel formulation (F15). Similarly, in vitro drug release studies showed that the prepared hydrogels exhibited a good, sustained release effect till the 24th hour. The kinetic modelling of drug release data revealed that the Korsmeyer–Peppas model was best fit model, describing a diffusion type of drug release from the prepared hydrogels. Conclusively, the outcomes predict that the hydrogel-based system could be a good choice for developing a sustained-release, once-daily dosage form of favipiravir for improved patient compliance. Full article
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

2021

Jump to: 2023, 2022, 2020

15 pages, 1620 KiB  
Article
Aggressive Impacts Affecting the Biodegradable Ultrathin Fibers Based on Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate), Polylactide and Their Blends: Water Sorption, Hydrolysis and Ozonolysis
by Anatoly A. Olkhov, Polina M. Tyubaeva, Alexandre A. Vetcher, Svetlana G. Karpova, Alexander S. Kurnosov, Svetlana Z. Rogovina, Alexey L. Iordanskii and Alexander A. Berlin
Polymers 2021, 13(6), 941; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13060941 - 18 Mar 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2510
Abstract
Ultrathin electrospun fibers of pristine biopolyesters, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and polylactic acid (PLA), as well as their blends, have been obtained and then explored after exposure to hydrolytic (phosphate buffer) and oxidative (ozone) media. All the fibers were obtained from a co-solvent, chloroform, by [...] Read more.
Ultrathin electrospun fibers of pristine biopolyesters, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and polylactic acid (PLA), as well as their blends, have been obtained and then explored after exposure to hydrolytic (phosphate buffer) and oxidative (ozone) media. All the fibers were obtained from a co-solvent, chloroform, by solution-mode electrospinning. The structure, morphology, and segmental dynamic behavior of the fibers have been determined by optical microscopy, SEM, ESR, and others. The isotherms of water absorption have been obtained and the deviation from linearity (the Henry low) was analyzed by the simplified model. For PHB-PLA fibers, the loss weight increments as the reaction on hydrolysis are symbate to water absorption capacity. It was shown that the ozonolysis of blend fibrils has a two-stage character which is typical for O3 consumption, namely, the pendant group’s oxidation and the autodegradation of polymer molecules with chain rupturing. The first stage of ozonolysis has a quasi-zero-order reaction. A subsequent second reaction stage comprising the back-bone destruction has a reaction order that differs from the zero order. The fibrous blend PLA/PHB ratio affects the rate of hydrolysis and ozonolysis so that the fibers with prevalent content of PLA display poor resistance to degradation in aqueous and gaseous media. Full article
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

11 pages, 9829 KiB  
Article
Particle and Gel Characterization of Irinotecan-Loaded Double-Reverse Thermosensitive Hydrogel
by Fakhar ud Din, Sung Giu Jin and Han-Gon Choi
Polymers 2021, 13(4), 551; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13040551 - 13 Feb 2021
Cited by 27 | Viewed by 2720
Abstract
The irinotecan-loaded double-reverse thermosensitive hydrogel (DRTH) is a dispersed system of irinotecan-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) in a thermosensitive hydrogel. To optimise the particle and gel properties of DRTHs for rectal administration of irinotecan, SLNs and DRTHs were prepared with tricaprin, triethanolamine, Tween [...] Read more.
The irinotecan-loaded double-reverse thermosensitive hydrogel (DRTH) is a dispersed system of irinotecan-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) in a thermosensitive hydrogel. To optimise the particle and gel properties of DRTHs for rectal administration of irinotecan, SLNs and DRTHs were prepared with tricaprin, triethanolamine, Tween 80, and Span 20. Among the SLNs tested, an SLN composed of 1 g irinotecan, 0.5 g lipid mixture, and 0.5 g combined surfactant gave the highest entrapment efficiency and smallest particle size. A DRTH composed of (poloxamer 407/poloxamer 188/combined surfactant/SLN dispersion/H2O (10/15/17/4/54%)) showed easy administration, fast gelling, and strong gel-forming in the body. Full article
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

2020

Jump to: 2023, 2022, 2021

14 pages, 1704 KiB  
Article
Drug-Eluting Biodegradable Implants for the Sustained Release of Bisphosphonates
by Cintya Dharmayanti, Todd A. Gillam, Desmond B. Williams and Anton Blencowe
Polymers 2020, 12(12), 2930; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12122930 - 07 Dec 2020
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3767
Abstract
Despite being one of the first-line treatments for osteoporosis, the bisphosphonate drug class exhibits an extremely low oral bioavailability (<1%) due to poor absorption from the gastrointestinal tract. To overcome this, and to explore the potential for sustained drug release, bioerodible poly(lactic [...] Read more.
Despite being one of the first-line treatments for osteoporosis, the bisphosphonate drug class exhibits an extremely low oral bioavailability (<1%) due to poor absorption from the gastrointestinal tract. To overcome this, and to explore the potential for sustained drug release, bioerodible poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) implants loaded with the bisphosphonate alendronate sodium (ALN) were prepared via hot-melt extrusion. The rate of drug release in vitro was modulated by tailoring the ratio of lactide to glycolide in the polymer and by altering the ALN-loading of the implants. All investigated implants exhibited sustained ALN release in vitro between 25 to 130 days, where implants of greater glycolide composition and higher ALN-loadings released ALN more rapidly. All PLGA implants demonstrated a sigmoidal release profile, characterised by an initial surface dissolution phase, followed by a period of zero-order drug diffusion, then relaxation or erosion of the polymer chains that caused accelerated release over the subsequent days. Contrastingly, the PLA implants demonstrated a logarithmic release profile, characterised by a gradual decrease in ALN release over time. Full article
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

18 pages, 11787 KiB  
Article
Micellar Carriers Based on Amphiphilic PEG/PCL Graft Copolymers for Delivery of Active Substances
by Justyna Odrobińska and Dorota Neugebauer
Polymers 2020, 12(12), 2876; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12122876 - 30 Nov 2020
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3324
Abstract
Amphiphilic copolymers of alkyne functionalized 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (AlHEMA) and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (MPEGMA) with graft or V-shaped graft topologies were synthesized. The functionalization of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) with azide group enabled attachment to P(AlHEMA-co-MPEGMA) copolymers via a “click” alkyne-azide reaction. [...] Read more.
Amphiphilic copolymers of alkyne functionalized 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (AlHEMA) and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (MPEGMA) with graft or V-shaped graft topologies were synthesized. The functionalization of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) with azide group enabled attachment to P(AlHEMA-co-MPEGMA) copolymers via a “click” alkyne-azide reaction. The introduction of PCL as a second side chain type in addition to PEG resulted in heterografted copolymers with modified properties such as biodegradability. “Click” reactions were carried out with efficiencies between 17–70% or 32–50% (for lower molecular weight PCL, 4000 g/mol, or higher molecular weight PCL, 9000 g/mol, respectively) depending on the PEG grafting density. The graft copolymers were self-assembled into micellar superstructures with the ability to encapsulate active substances, such as vitamin C (VitC), arbutin (ARB) or 4-n-butylresorcinol (4nBRE). Drug loading contents (DLC) were obtained in the range of 5–55% (VitC), 39–91% (ARB) and 42–98% (4nBRE). In vitro studies carried out in a phosphate buffer saline (PBS) solution (at pH 7.4 or 5.5) gave the maximum release levels of active substances after 10–240 min depending on the polymer system. Permeation tests in Franz chambers indicated that the bioactive substances after release by micellar systems penetrated through the artificial skin membrane in small amounts, and a majority of the bioactive substances remained inside the membrane, which is satisfactory for most cosmetic applications. Full article
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop