Abstract
The present review concerns smart, or intelligent polymers for oral administration that change conformation in aqueous solutions in response to external stimuli such as pH or temperature. We concentrate on charged polymers and gels with polyelectrolyte properties. Because of the ionization at a certain pH or in response to changes in the ionic composition of the solution, a polyelectrolyte has better chances of displaying smart properties than a neutral polymer. When such smart polyelectrolyte is cross-linked by covalent or hydrogen bonding and / or physical aggregation or is entangled, it forms an environmentally sensitive gel capable of swelling and collapse in an aqueous medium. Varying pH, temperature, and microbial flora are found in the gastrointestinal tract, and thus pH- sensitive polymers and gels that can be degraded by specific enzymes and / or inhibit proteolytic enzymes can be tailored for the efficient site-specific therapy. Smart polymers wield a lot of promise in the targeted, site-specific administration where they can provide advantages in loading of sensitive drugs such as proteins and peptides, while releasing the drug at a specific pH or in response to the presence of certain microbial flora.
Keywords: peroral therapy, responsive polyelectrolytes, gels, enzymatic degradation
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
Title: Intelligent Polyelectrolytes and Gels in Oral Drug Delivery
Volume: 4 Issue: 5
Author(s): Lev Bromberg
Affiliation:
Keywords: peroral therapy, responsive polyelectrolytes, gels, enzymatic degradation
Abstract: The present review concerns smart, or intelligent polymers for oral administration that change conformation in aqueous solutions in response to external stimuli such as pH or temperature. We concentrate on charged polymers and gels with polyelectrolyte properties. Because of the ionization at a certain pH or in response to changes in the ionic composition of the solution, a polyelectrolyte has better chances of displaying smart properties than a neutral polymer. When such smart polyelectrolyte is cross-linked by covalent or hydrogen bonding and / or physical aggregation or is entangled, it forms an environmentally sensitive gel capable of swelling and collapse in an aqueous medium. Varying pH, temperature, and microbial flora are found in the gastrointestinal tract, and thus pH- sensitive polymers and gels that can be degraded by specific enzymes and / or inhibit proteolytic enzymes can be tailored for the efficient site-specific therapy. Smart polymers wield a lot of promise in the targeted, site-specific administration where they can provide advantages in loading of sensitive drugs such as proteins and peptides, while releasing the drug at a specific pH or in response to the presence of certain microbial flora.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Bromberg Lev, Intelligent Polyelectrolytes and Gels in Oral Drug Delivery, Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology 2003; 4 (5) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1389201033489702
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1389201033489702 |
Print ISSN 1389-2010 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4316 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Artificial Intelligence in Bioinformatics
Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary field that analyzes and explores biological data. This field combines biology and information system. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has attracted great attention as it tries to replicate human intelligence. It has become common technology for analyzing and solving complex data and problems and encompasses sub-fields of machine ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
Human Growth Hormone Induced Cholestatic Hepatitis in a Growth Hormone Deficient Patient with Short Stature
Current Drug Safety Prolylcarboxypeptidase Gene Expression in the Heart and Kidney: Effects of Obesity and Diabetes
Cardiovascular & Hematological Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Integrins in Pulmonary Inflammatory Diseases
Current Pharmaceutical Design Leuckart Synthesis and Pharmacological Assessment of Novel Acetamide Derivatives
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Fibroblast Growth Factors, Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptors, Diseases, and Drugs
Recent Patents on Cardiovascular Drug Discovery Strategic Developments & Future Perspective on Gene Therapy for Breast Cancer: Role of mTOR and Brk/ PTK6 as Molecular Targets
Current Gene Therapy Targeting Molecular Imaging Approach for Detection of Infection and Inflammation by Diagnostic Nuclear Medicine Techniques
Current Medical Imaging The Safety of the Temozolomide in Patients with Malignant Glioma
Current Drug Safety Aqueous Extract of Arbutus unedo Inhibits STAT1 Activation in Human Breast Cancer Cell Line MDA-MB-231 and Human Fibroblasts Through SHP2 Activation
Medicinal Chemistry Gut Microbiota as an Emerging Therapeutic Avenue for the Treatment of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Current Pharmaceutical Design Understanding the Use of Immunosuppressive Agents in the Clinical Management of IBD
Current Drug Targets New Insights in Drug-Induced Mitochondrial Toxicity
Current Pharmaceutical Design Recent Progress of Small Molecular VEGFR Inhibitors as Anticancer Agents
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry The Immunomodulatory Effects of Physical Activity
Current Pharmaceutical Design Recent Updates of N-Type Calcium Channel Blockers with Therapeutic Potential for Neuropathic Pain and Stroke
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Essential Fatty Acids - A Review
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Mitochondria as Possible Pharmaceutical Targets for the Effects of Vitamin E and its Homologues in Oxidative Stress-Related Diseases
Current Pharmaceutical Design Proinflammatory Activities of Leptin in Non-Autoimmune Conditions
Inflammation & Allergy - Drug Targets (Discontinued) Endothelial Dysfunction: Methods of Assessment & Implications for Cardiovascular Diseases
Current Pharmaceutical Design Recent Clinical Evidence in Bisphosphonate-related Osteomyelitis of the Jaw: Focus on Risk, Prevention and Treatment
Reviews on Recent Clinical Trials