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Polymers
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Polymeric Systems for Drug Delivery: From Synthesis to Applications
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Polymeric Systems for Drug Delivery: From Synthesis to Applications

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 July 2022) | Viewed by 32305

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Gianina Popescu-Pelin

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Guest Editor
National Institute for Lasers, Plasma and Radiation Physics (INFLPR), “Laser-Surface-Plasma Interactions” Laboratory, Lasers Department, 409A Atomistilor street, 077125 Magurele, Ilfov, Romania
Interests: laser processing of materials; synthesis of thin films by different pulsed laser techniques; biomaterials; biomimetic-modified metallic implants; polymeric coatings; drug delivery applications
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Anita Ioana Visan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
“Laser-Surface-Plasma Interactions” Laboratory, Lasers Department, National Institute for Lasers, Plasma and Radiation Physics (INFLPR), 409A Atomistilor Street, 077125 Magurele, Romania
Interests: heat transfer at the micro/nano-scale from computation to experiment, including thermophysical properties measurement of nanostructured materials for different applications ranging from thermoelectric to medical
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Gabriel Socol

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Lasers Department, National Institute for Lasers, 409A Atomistilor street, 077125 Magurele, Ilfov, Romania
Interests: biomaterials; nanostructures and pharmacophores; laser applications in nanostructures for controlled drug administration; implants and tissue engineering
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

The development of drug delivery devices and systems was and still remain a topic of interest for the medical field due to the requirement to maximize the bioefficacy of therapeutic agents, to simplify the clinical applicability and to improve the quality of patient's life.

Polymers represent attractive drug matrices on the strength of their versatility in chemistry, which can lead to a controlled and sustained release of drugs in predetermined doses over long periods.

The aim of the Special Issue is to cover complex studies regarding all aspects of drug delivery:
1. Development of biopolymeric functionalized surfaces
2. Mechanisms of polymer degradation
3. Biodegradable and biomimetic polymers for tissue engineering: in vitro and in vivo tests
4. Polymer systems for drug delivery
5. Polymer composites
6. Synthesis of polymer particles and coatings
7. Characterization and analysis of polymers
8. Long term and short-term impact of specific delivery issues
9. Sustained delivery formulations
10. Polymer Modelling

All kind of delivery polymeric systems including oral, injectable, transdermal, and also approaches about controlled release systems (microspheres, nanoparticles, implants, functionalized coatings, gels, protein/peptide delivery) are targeted.

Keywords

  • biopolymers
  • natural polymers
  • biodegradable
  • biocompatibility
  • drug delivery
  • tissue engineering
  • composites
  • blends
  • particles
  • controlled release
  • drug delivery
  • design
  • development
  • biocompatibility
  • antimicrobials

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 26005 KiB  
Article
Bioactive Ibuprofen-Loaded PLGA Coatings for Multifunctional Surface Modification of Medical Devices
by Oana Gherasim, Gianina Popescu-Pelin, Paula Florian, Madalina Icriverzi, Anca Roseanu, Valentina Mitran, Anisoara Cimpean and Gabriel Socol
Polymers 2021, 13(9), 1413; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13091413 - 27 Apr 2021
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3653
Abstract
To modulate the biofunctionality of implantable medical devices commonly used in clinical practice, their surface modification with bioactive polymeric coatings is an attractive and successful emerging strategy. Biodegradable coatings based on poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid), PLGA, represent versatile and safe candidates for [...] Read more.
To modulate the biofunctionality of implantable medical devices commonly used in clinical practice, their surface modification with bioactive polymeric coatings is an attractive and successful emerging strategy. Biodegradable coatings based on poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid), PLGA, represent versatile and safe candidates for surface modification of implantable biomaterials and devices, providing additional tunable ability for topical delivery of desired therapeutic agents. In the present study, Ibuprofen-loaded PLGA coatings (PLGA/IBUP) were obtained by using the dip-coating and drop-casting combined protocol. The composite materials demonstrated long-term drug release under biologically simulated dynamic conditions. Reversible swelling phenomena of polymeric coatings occurred in the first two weeks of testing, accompanied by the gradual matrix degradation and slow release of the therapeutic agent. Irreversible degradation of PLGA coatings occurred after one month, due to copolymer’s hydrolysis (evidenced by chemical and structural modifications). After 30 days of dynamic testing, the cumulative release of IBUP was ~250 µg/mL. Excellent cytocompatibility was revealed on human-derived macrophages, fibroblasts and keratinocytes. The results herein evidence the promising potential of PLGA/IBUP coatings to be used for surface modification of medical devices, such as metallic implants and wound dressings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Systems for Drug Delivery: From Synthesis to Applications)
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18 pages, 3964 KiB  
Article
Development of Epirubicin-Loaded Biocompatible Polymer PLA–PEG–PLA Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterization, Stability, and In Vitro Anticancerous Assessment
by Salam Massadeh, Iman Almohammed, Eman Barhoush, Mustafa Omer, Nouf Aldhawi, Abdulaziz Almalik and Manal Alaamery
Polymers 2021, 13(8), 1212; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13081212 - 9 Apr 2021
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3658
Abstract
Epirubicin (EPI) is an anti-cancerous chemotherapeutic drug that is an effective epimer of doxorubicin with less cardiotoxicity. Although EPI has fewer side effects than its analog, doxorubicin, this study aims to develop EPI nanoparticles as an improved formula of the conventional treatment of [...] Read more.
Epirubicin (EPI) is an anti-cancerous chemotherapeutic drug that is an effective epimer of doxorubicin with less cardiotoxicity. Although EPI has fewer side effects than its analog, doxorubicin, this study aims to develop EPI nanoparticles as an improved formula of the conventional treatment of EPI in its free form. Methods: In this study, EPI-loaded polymeric nanoparticles (EPI-NPs) were prepared by the double emulsion method using a biocompatible poly (lactide) poly (ethylene glycol) poly(lactide) (PLA–PEG–PLA) polymer. The physicochemical properties of the EPI-NPs were determined by dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), entrapment efficiency and stability studies. The effect of EPI-NPs on cancer cells was determined by high throughput imaging and flow cytometry. Results: The synthesis process resulted in monodisperse EPI-NPs with a size of 166.93 ± 1.40 nm and an elevated encapsulation efficiency (EE) of 88.3%. In addition, TEM images revealed the spherical uniformness of EPI-NPs with no aggregation, while the cellular studies presented the effect of EPI-NPs on MCF-7 cells’ viability; after 96 h of treatment, the MCF-7 cells presented considerable apoptotic activity. The stability study showed that the EPI-NPs remained stable at room temperature at physiological pH for over 30 days. Conclusion: EPI-NPs were successfully encapsulated within a highly stable biocompatible polymer with minimal loss of the drug. The used polymer has low cytotoxicity and EPI-NPs induced apoptosis in estrogen-positive cell line, making them a promising, safe treatment for cancer with less adverse side effects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Systems for Drug Delivery: From Synthesis to Applications)
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18 pages, 8155 KiB  
Article
Doxorubicin-Conjugated Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Synthesized by Laser Pyrolysis: In Vitro Study on Human Breast Cancer Cells
by Iulia Ioana Lungu, Simona Nistorescu, Mădălina Andreea Badea, Andreea-Mihaela Petre, Ana-Maria Udrea, Ana-Maria Banici, Claudiu Fleacă, Ecaterina Andronescu, Anca Dinischiotu, Florian Dumitrache, Angela Staicu and Mihaela Balaș
Polymers 2020, 12(12), 2799; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12122799 - 26 Nov 2020
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 3653
Abstract
Even today, breast cancer remains a global public problem, with a high mortality rate among women. Nanoparticle (NP) based systems are developed to enhance drug delivery, reducing the toxic effect of medicine molecules. By using iron oxide nanoparticles for cancer treatment, several advantages [...] Read more.
Even today, breast cancer remains a global public problem, with a high mortality rate among women. Nanoparticle (NP) based systems are developed to enhance drug delivery, reducing the toxic effect of medicine molecules. By using iron oxide nanoparticles for cancer treatment, several advantages were highlighted: the ability to target specific locations derived from their magnetic properties and reduced side effects. The aim of this study was to examine on breast cancer cell line the anticancer potential of γ-Fe2O3 NPs loaded with doxorubicin (DOX) and stabilized with carboxymethylcellulose sodium (CMCNa). The γ-Fe2O3 NPs were synthesized by laser pyrolysis technique and their nanometric size and crystallinity were confirmed by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The loading efficiency was estimated by using absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. The DOX conjugated//CMCNa coated γ-Fe2O3 NPs proved through the biological studies to have a good anticancer effect through the inhibition of tumoral cell proliferation, disruption of the cellular membrane, induction of cell death and reduced effects on normal breast cells. Our data showed that DOX cytotoxicity increases significantly when conjugated with ɣ-Fe2O3 and ɣ-Fe2O3_CMCNa, a 50% reduction of cancer cell viability was obtained with a concentration around 0.1 µg/mL. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Systems for Drug Delivery: From Synthesis to Applications)
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Review

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36 pages, 2092 KiB  
Review
Degradation Behavior of Polymers Used as Coating Materials for Drug Delivery—A Basic Review
by Anita Ioana Visan, Gianina Popescu-Pelin and Gabriel Socol
Polymers 2021, 13(8), 1272; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13081272 - 14 Apr 2021
Cited by 63 | Viewed by 7573
Abstract
The purpose of the work was to emphasize the main differences and similarities in the degradation mechanisms in the case of polymeric coatings compared with the bulk ones. Combined with the current background, this work reviews the properties of commonly utilized degradable polymers [...] Read more.
The purpose of the work was to emphasize the main differences and similarities in the degradation mechanisms in the case of polymeric coatings compared with the bulk ones. Combined with the current background, this work reviews the properties of commonly utilized degradable polymers in drug delivery, the factors affecting degradation mechanism, testing methods while offering a retrospective on the evolution of the controlled release of biodegradable polymeric coatings. A literature survey on stability and degradation of different polymeric coatings, which were thoroughly evaluated by different techniques, e.g., polymer mass loss measurements, surface, structural and chemical analysis, was completed. Moreover, we analyzed some shortcomings of the degradation behavior of biopolymers in form of coatings and briefly proposed some solving directions to the main existing problems (e.g., improving measuring techniques resolution, elucidation of complete mathematical analysis of the different degradation mechanisms). Deep studies are still necessary on the dynamic changes which occur to biodegradable polymeric coatings which can help to envisage the future performance of synthesized films designed to be used as medical devices with application in drug delivery. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Systems for Drug Delivery: From Synthesis to Applications)
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22 pages, 1527 KiB  
Review
Contact Lenses as Ophthalmic Drug Delivery Systems: A Review
by Paola Franco and Iolanda De Marco
Polymers 2021, 13(7), 1102; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13071102 - 30 Mar 2021
Cited by 61 | Viewed by 8504
Abstract
Ophthalmic drugs used for the treatment of various ocular diseases are commonly administered by eye drops. However, due to anatomical and physiological factors, there is a low bioavailability of the active principle. In order to increase the drug residence time on the cornea [...] Read more.
Ophthalmic drugs used for the treatment of various ocular diseases are commonly administered by eye drops. However, due to anatomical and physiological factors, there is a low bioavailability of the active principle. In order to increase the drug residence time on the cornea to adequate levels, therapeutic contact lenses have recently been proposed. The polymeric support that constitutes the contact lens is loaded with the drug; in this way, there is a direct and effective pharmacological action on the target organ, promoting a prolonged release of the active principle. The incorporation of ophthalmic drugs into contact lenses can be performed by different techniques; nowadays, the soaking method is mainly employed. To improve the therapeutic performance of drug-loaded contact lenses, innovative methods have recently been proposed, including the impregnation with supercritical carbon dioxide. This updated review of therapeutic contact lenses production and application provides useful information on the most effective preparation methodologies, recent achievements and future perspectives. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Systems for Drug Delivery: From Synthesis to Applications)
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19 pages, 7205 KiB  
Review
Polymeric Systems Containing Supramolecular Coordination Complexes for Drug Delivery
by Feng Chen, Yang Li, Xiongjie Lin, Huayu Qiu and Shouchun Yin
Polymers 2021, 13(3), 370; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13030370 - 25 Jan 2021
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3502
Abstract
Cancer has become a common disease that seriously endangers human health and life. Up to now, the essential treatment method has been drug therapy, and drug delivery plays an important role in cancer therapy. To improve the efficiency of drug therapy, researchers are [...] Read more.
Cancer has become a common disease that seriously endangers human health and life. Up to now, the essential treatment method has been drug therapy, and drug delivery plays an important role in cancer therapy. To improve the efficiency of drug therapy, researchers are committed to improving drug delivery methods to enhance drug pharmacokinetics and cancer accumulation. Supramolecular coordination complexes (SCCs) with well-defined shapes and sizes are formed through the coordination between diverse functional organic ligands and metal ions, and they have emerged as potential components in drug delivery and cancer therapy. In particular, micelles or vesicles with the required biocompatibility and stability are synthesized using SCC-containing polymeric systems to develop novel carriers for drug delivery that possess combined properties and extended system tunability. In this study, the research status of SCC-containing polymeric systems as drug carriers and adjuvants for cancer treatment is reviewed, and a special focus is given to their design and preparation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Systems for Drug Delivery: From Synthesis to Applications)
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