ABSTRACT

The science of drug delivery may be described as the application of chemical and biological principles to control the in vivo temporal and spatial location of drug molecules for clinical benefit. Scientists researching drug delivery seek to address these issues in order to maximize drug activity and minimize side effects. However, as scientists endeavor to imitate nature, it must be appreciated that the most likely belong to the macromolecules that closely resemble nature’s tools, i.e., the proteins and glycoproteins, with a definite polymer sequence and defined and precisely controlled polymer lengths. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book. The book focuses on polymer characterization and outlines the methods by which polymers may be characterized prior to use. It also outlines the issues that must be considered when selecting a polymer for biomedical applications: i.e., for fabricating a drug delivery agent, surgical suture, prosthetic implant, or medical device.