Vijay Kumar Thakur (Ph.D.) is a Staff Scientist in the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at Washington State University, U.S.A. He has published more than 100 research articles, patents and conference proceedings in the field of polymers and materials science and has published ten books and 25 book chapters on the advanced state-of-the-art of polymers/ materials science. He has extensive expertise in the synthesis of polymers (natural/ synthetic), nano materials, nanocomposites, biocomposites, graft copolymers, high performance capacitors and electrochromic materials.Manju Kumari Thakur works in the Department of Chemistry, Himachal Pradesh University, Simla, India.

• Preface xv1 Smart Hydrogels: Therapeutic Advancements in Hydrogel Technology for Smart Drug Delivery Applications 1Gabriel Goetten de Lima, Diwakar Kanwar, Derek Macken, Luke Geever, Declan M. Devine and Michael J.D. Nugent1.1 Introduction 11.2 Types and Properties of Smart Polymer Hydrogels 41.2.1 Temperature-Responsive Hydrogels 41.2.2 pH-Sensitive Hydrogels 51.2.3 Glucose-Responsive Hydrogels 71.2.4 Electro-Signal Sensitive Hydrogels 81.2.5 Light-Sensitive Hydrogels 81.2.6 Multi-Responsive Smart Hydrogels 101.3 Applications of Smart Polymer Hydrogels 111.4 Conclusion 11References 132 Molecularly Imprinted Polymers for Pharmaceutical Applications 17Ambareesh Kumar Singh, Neha Gupta, Juhi Srivastava, Archana Kushwaha and Meenakshi Singh2.1 Introduction 172.2 Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics 192.3 Sulfonamides 362.4 Miscellaneous 412.5 Conclusions and Future Prospects 482.6 Acronyms and Abbreviations 48References 503 Polymeric Stabilizers for Drug Nanocrystals 67Leena Peltonen, Annika Tuomela and Jouni Hirvonen3.1 Introduction 673.2 Methods for Nanocrystallization 683.2.1 Bottom-Up Technologies 693.2.2 Top-Down Technologies 693.2.3 Combination Technologies 713.4 Polymers for Nanocrystal Stabilization 733.4.1 Polymers of Natural Origin 753.4.2 Synthetic Polymers 773.5 Effect of Stabilizing Polymers on Drug Biocompatibility, Bioactivity, Membrane Permeability and Drug Absorption 793.6 Conclusions and Future Perspective 82References 824 Polymeric Matrices for the Controlled Release of Phosphonate Active Agents for Medicinal Applications 89Konstantinos E. Papathanasiou and Konstantinos D. Demadis4.1 Introduction 894.2 Polymers in Drug Delivery 914.2.1 Polyesters 924.2.1.1 Poly(lactic acid), Poly(glycolic acid), and Their Copolymers 924.2.1.2 Poly(ethylene glycol) Block Copolymers 934.2.1.3 Poly(ortho esters) 944.2.1.4 Poly(anhydrides) 964.2.1.5 Poly(anhydride−imides) 974.2.1.6 Poly(anhydrite esters) 984.2.2 Poly(amides) 994.2.3 Poly(iminocarbonates) 1004.3 Release of Phosphonate-Based Drugs 1004.4 Conclusions/Perspectives 114References 1155 Hydrogels for Pharmaceutical Applications 125Veena Koul, Sirsendu Bhowmick and Th anusha A.V.5.1 Introduction 1255.2 What are Hydrogels? 1265.3 Classification of Hydrogels 1265.4 Preparation of Hydrogels 1275.5 Characterization of Hydrogels 1285.6 Application of Hydrogels 1315.6.1 Wound Dressing 1315.6.2 Implantable Drug Delivery Systems 1335.6.3 Tissue Engineering Substitute 1345.6.4 Injectable Hydrogels 1365.7 Conclusion 137Acknowledgement 138References 1386 Responsive Plasmid DNA Hydrogels: A New Approach for Biomedical Applications 145Diana Costa, Artur J.M. Valente and Joao Queiroz6.2 DNA-Based Hydrogels 1476.3 Controlled and Sustained Release 1506.3.1 Photodisruption of Plasmid DNA Networks 1506.3.2 Release of Plasmid DNA 1526.3.3 Release of Chemotherapeutic Drugs 1546.3.4 In Vitro Studies 1556.4 Combination of Chemo and Gene Therapies 1566.5 Conclusions and Future Perspectives 158References 1597 Bioactive and Compatible Polysaccharides Hydrogels Structure and Properties for Pharmaceutical Applications 163Teresa Cristina F. Silva, Andressa Antunes Prado de Franca and Lucian A. Lucia7.1 Introduction 1637.2 Materials and Methods 1647.2.1 Isolation of Xylans 1667.2.1.1 Preparing Hydrogel without A PrioriGrafting of Vinyl Group 1667.2.1.2 Preparing Hydrogels for Grafting Polymerization 1667.2.2 Hydrogel Synthesis and Characterization 1667.2.2.1 Preparing Hydrogel without A Priori Grafting of Vinyl Group 1667.2.2.2 Preparing Hydrogels for Grafting Polymerization 1667.2.3 Doxorubicin Release from Xylan-Based Hydrogels 1677.3 Results and Discussion 1677.3.1 Hydrogel without A Priori Grafting of Vinyl Group 1677.3.1.1 Reaction of PAA with Wood 1677.3.1.2 Hydrogel Preparation and Characterization 1687.3.2 Hydrogels for Grafting Polymerization 1707.3.2.1 Morphology and Rheological Properties 1727.3.2.2 Swelling Behavior 1737.3.2.3 Drug Release 174References 1758 Molecularly Imprinted Polymers for Pharmaceutical Analysis 179Piotr Luliński8.1 Introduction 1798.2 Overview of the Imprinting Process 1808.3 Molecularly Imprinted Polymers for Separation Purposes 1828.3.1 Bulk Imprinted Materials 1828.3.2 Imprinted Monoliths 1858.3.3 Imprinted Stir-Bar Sorptive Extraction 1878.3.4 Molecularly Imprinted Microparticles and Nanostructures 1888.3.5 Magnetic Imprinted Materials 1928.3.6 Miscellaneous Imprinted Formats 1948.4 Molecularly Imprinted Sensors for Drugs 1958.5 Conclusion and Future Perspective 197References 1979 Prolamine-Based Matrices for Biomedical Applications 203Pradeep Kumar, Yahya E. Choonara and Viness Pillay9.1 Introduction 2039.2 Gliadin – Prolamine Isolated from Wheat Gluten 2049.2.1 Gliadin Nanoparticles 2059.2.1.1 Hydrophobicity of Gliadin 2069.2.1.2 Solubility Parameter 2079.2.2 Controlled Drug Release from Gliadin-Based Matrices 2079.2.2.1 Salting-Out 2079.2.2.2 Gliadin Films 2089.2.2.3 Gliadin Foams 2099.3 Zein - Prolamine Isolated from Corn Gluten Meal 2099.3.1 Drug-Loaded Zein Particulates 2109.3.1.1 Microsphere-Based Films and Tablets 2109.3.1.2 Zein-Based Blends and Complexes 2139.3.1.3 Zein-Based Nanoparticulate Systems 2139.3.2 Biomedical Applications of Zein-Based Matrices 2159.4 Soy Protein – Prolamine Isolated from Soybean 2179.4.1 Soy Protein Derivatives 2189.4.2 Soy-Based Polymer Blends 2189.4.3 Soy-Based Crosslinked Matrices 2199.4.4 Cold-Set Gelation of Soy Protein 2219.5 Kafi rin – Prolamine Isolated from Sorghum 2229.5.1 Microparticles 2239.5.2 Compressed Matrices 2249.6 Conclusion and Future Perspective 224References 22510 Hydrogels Based on Poly(2-oxazoline) S for Pharmaceutical Applications 230Anna Zahoranova and Juraj Kronek10.1 Hydrogels for Medical Applications 23110.1.1 Controlled Drug Delivery and Release 23210.1.1.1 Prolonged Effect of Drugs 23210.1.1.2 Stimuli-Sensitive Drug Delivery 23410.1.2 3D Cell Cultivation 23610.1.2.1 Chemical Composition 23710.1.2.2 Porosity and Pore Size 23810.1.3 Tissue Engineering 23810.1.4 Nonenzymatic Detachment of Cells 23910.2 Poly(2-oxazoline)s in Pharmaceutical Applications 24010.2.1 Biocompatibility of Poly(2-oxazoline)s 24110.2.2 Biomedical Applications of Poly(2-oxazoline)s 24410.3 Poly(2-oxazoline)-Based Hydrogels – Synthetic Strategies 24510.3.1 Hydrogels Containing Segments of Poly(2-oxazoline)s 24510.3.2 Crosslinked Poly(2-oxazoline)s 24810.4 Applications of Poly(2-oxazoline)-Based Hydrogels 25010.4.1 Controlled Delivery of Drugs 25010.4.1.1 Hydrogels for DNA Binding 25110.4.1.2 Hydrogels Modifi ed by Peptidic Sequences 25210.5 Conclusions and Future Perspectives 252Acknowledgement 253References 25411 Mixed Biocompatible Block Copolymer/Lipid Nanostructures as Drug Nanocarriers: Advantages and Pharmaceutical Perspectives 259Natassa Pippa, Stergios Pispas and Costas Demetzos11.1 Introduction 25911.2 Drug Delivery Systems 26111.2.1 Conventional Drug Delivery Systems 26111.2.2 Mixed Drug Delivery Systems Employing Biocompatible Polymers 26311.3 Mixed Biocompatible Block Copolymer/Lipid Drug Nanocarriers: The Concept through Examples 26611.3.1 Preparation of Mixed Drug Nanocarriers 26611.3.2 Physicochemical Characterization of Mixed Drug Nanocarriers 26711.3.3 Th ermotropic Behavior of Mixed Drug Nanocarriers 27011.3.4 Imaging of Mixed Drug Nanocarriers 27411.3.5 In Vitro Drug Release from the Mixed Nanocarriers 27411.4 Conclusion and Future Perspective 277References 27912 Nanoparticle Polymer-Based Engineered Nanoconstructs for Targeted Cancer Th erapeutics 287Anand Thirunavukarasou, Sudhakar Baluchamy and Anil K. Suresh12.1 An Overview of Metal Polymer-Based Nanoconstructs 28712.1.1 Tumor-Specific Targeting Using Nanoparticle-Polymer Nanoconstructs 29012.1.2 Cytotoxicity Assessments of Nanoparticle-Polymer Constructs 29112.1.2.1 MTT and/or MTS Assay 29112.1.2.2 Live/Dead Staining Assay 29112.1.3 Physical Characterization Techniques to Assess the Cellular Uptake of the Nanoparticle-Polymer Constructs 29212.1.3.1 Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS) for Quantitative Uptake 29212.1.3.2 Dark Field Microscopy 29212.1.3.3 Ultramicrotome-Based Trans-Sectional Transmission Electron Microscopy Imaging 29312.2 Conclusions 293Acknowledgements 294References 29413 Th e Importance of Dendrimers in Pharmaceutical Applications 297Veronica Brunetti, Marisa Martinelli and Miriam C. Strumia13.1 Introduction 29713.1.1 What are Dendrimers? 29813.1.2 Synthetic Methods for Dendritic Molecules 30013.1.2.1 Divergent Synthesis 30013.1.2.2 Convergent Synthesis 30113.2 Properties of Dendritic Polymers Useful for Biomedical Applications 30113.3 Current Pharmaceutical Products Prepared from Dendritic Polymer:Promising Prospects for Future Applications 30313.3.1 Diagnostic Technologies 30313.3.2 Dendritic Polymers in Prevention 30413.3.3 Therapeutic Applications 30713.4 Conclusions 310References 31014 Pharmaceutical Polymers: Bioactive and Synthetic Hybrid Polymers 315Roxana Cristina Popescu and Alexandru Mihai Grumezescu14.1 Introduction 31514.2 General Obtainment Methods for Polymeric Microspheres and Hybrid Materials 32014.3 Stimuli-Responsive (pH/temperature/photo) polymers 32114.3.1 PEG 32114.3.2 PLA and PLGA 32514.3.3 PVP 32814.3.4 PVA 33314.4 Conclusions 333Acknowledgements 334References 33415 Eco-friendly Polymer-Based Nanocomposites for Pharmaceutical Applications 341Ida Idayu Muhamad, Suguna Selvakumaran, Mohd Harfi z Salehudin and Saiful Izwan Abd Razak15.1 Introduction 34215.1.1 Eco-friendly Polymers, the Briefs 34215.1.2 Composite 34215.1.3 Nanocomposites 34315.1.4 Eco-friendly Nanocomposite 34315.1.5 Market Trend in Eco-friendly Polymer Nanocomposites in Biomedical Application 34415.2 Structure and Properties of Some Eco-friendly Pharmaceutical Polymers 34515.2.1 Starch 34615.2.2 Chitosan 34715.2.2.1 Application of Chitosan 34815.2.3 Alginate (E400-E404) 34915.2.4 Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) 34915.2.5 Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) 35015.2.6 Gelatin 35115.2.7 Casein Protein 35115.2.8 Carrageenan 35215.3 Review of Development and Application of Selected Eco-friendly Polymer-Based Nanocomposites 35515.3.1 Eco-friendly Polymer Matrix Nanocomposites for Tissue Engineering 35515.3.2 Polymer Nanocomposites in Drug Delivery 35615.3.3 Nanocomposite-Based Biosensor on Eco-friendly Polymer 35815.3.4 Polymer Nanocomposite-Based Microfluidics 35915.4 Case Study on Carrageenan-Based Nanocomposite 36015.4.1 Carrageenan-Based Metalic Nanocomposite 36015.4.2 Advantageous of Metalic Nanocomposite in Pharmaceutical Applications 36615.5 Summary 366References 36716 Biodegradable and Biocompatible Polymers-Based Drug Delivery Systems for Cancer Th erapy 373Ibrahim M. El-Sherbiny, Nancy M. El-Baz and Amr H. Mohamed16.1 Introduction 37316.1.1 Cancer-Targeted Therapy 37616.2 Selection Considerations of Polymers for Drug Delivery 37716.2.1 Biodegradability 37716.2.2 Biocompatibility 37916.2.3 Surface Modification 37916.3 Types of Biodegradable Polymers 38116.3.1 Natural Biodegradable Polymers 38116.3.1.1 Protein-Based Biodegradable Polymers 38116.3.1.2 Polysaccharides-Based Biodegradable Polymers 38216.3.2 Synthetic Biodegradable Polymers 38416.3.2.1 Polyesters 38416.4 Preparation Methods of Biodegradable Polymeric Carriers 38716.4.1 Polymer Dispersion 38816.4.1.1 Emulsion-Solvent Evaporation Method 38816.4.1.2 Double Emulsion Method 38916.4.1.3 Nanoprecipitation 38916.4.1.4 Salting Out 38916.4.2 Polymerization 38916.4.2.1 Emulsion Polymerization 39016.4.2.2 Microemulsion Polymerization 39016.4.3 Ionic Gelation 39016.4.4 Spray Drying 39116.5 Recent Applications of Biodegradable Polymers-Based Targeted Drug Delivery for Cancer Therapy 39116.5.1 Passive Cancer-Targeted Delivery 39216.5.1.1 Stealth Liposomes and Nanoparticles 39316.5.2 Active Cancer-Targeted Drug Delivery Systems 39516.5.3 Stimuli-Responsive Polymeric Drug Delivery 39616.6 Conclusion 400References 400Index 407

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