The role of polymers in drug delivery systems

Polymers that have been formed from lactic acid consisted of early drug delivery systems. Today, polymeric materials still play a major role in drug delivery systems mainly for the following facts:

 

Polymeric materials are easy to process

Polymeric materials are easy to manipulate by researchers (their chemical and physical properties)

 

 

Biodegradable systems

Biodegradable polymer systems are the most popular among drug delivery system researchers today because they degrade into biological acceptable compounds.

This feature occurs mostly in bulk or in the surface of the polymer.  The polymers break into lactic and glycolic acids. These acids can easily be expelled by the body.

 

Collagen for instance, is a naturally occurring polymer, whereas a group of higher degrader polymer consists of polyesters, poly and polyacrylic acids.

 

Science today faces investigations relating to the usage of polymer matrixes as drug transport devices, although biochemists as well as chemical engineers are in constant seek of innovative drug delivery systems other than the traditionally polymer networks.