ABSTRACT
Therefore, the foregoing diffusion-kinetic model allows the reversibility factor to be controlled with time. This opens a way to improving biocompatibility of copolymers used in medicine.
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Since the 1970s polymeric-controlled delivery of drugs and of other low molecular weight compounds has become an important area of research, development, and production. In this short time, several devices with programmed kinetics and rate of release have progressed from the university or institution laboratory to the
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hospitals and agricultural fields, and the shops. Although newer and more specific polymeric controlled-delivery systems continue to be developed, the understanding of the mechanism of multicomponent transport becomes more and more important for the design of particular devices. The theories discussed in this chapter represent fundamental approaches that were developed to describe the regularities of multicomponent transport in polymers. As relate<:i to the systems for controlled release, these regularities may be used to design devices more properly corresponding to the practical requirements. The successful application of fundamental research will be a significant challenge that may provide new acceleration of the investigations in this important and fruitful area of our life.
