Covering spider silk and silk worm cocoons, the editors elucidate the extraction, structure and properties of silk sericin and silk fibroin.

In this concise and systematic book, a team of experts select the most important, cutting-edge technologies used in drug delivery systems. They take into account significant drugs, new technologies such as nanoparticles, and therapeutic applications. The chapters present step-by-step laboratory protocols following the highly successful Methods in Molecular BiologyTM series format, offering readily reproducible results vital for pharmaceutical physicians and scientists.

With the improvements in formulation science and certain transdermal delivery technologies, the non-invasive mode of drug delivery is now ready to compete with traditional methods of oral and injectible routes of drug delivery. The Handbook of Non-Invasive Drug Delivery Systems encompasses the broad field of non-invasive drug delivery systems that include drug delivery via topical, transdermal-passive, transdermal-active (device- aided enhanced penetration), trans-mucosal membrane, trans-ocular membrane as well as delivery via alveolar membrane from inhaled medication. Patient compliance has been found to be much higher when administrated by non-invasive routes and therefore they are considered to be a preferred mode of drug delivery. The book includes both science and technological aspects of new drug delivery systems. Its unique focus is that it is on new drug delivery systems that are considered to be "non-invasive". Other unique features include a chapter on Regulatory Aspects of non-invasive systems and one on FDA guidance for topical nano-drug delivery. Two chapters covering market trends and perspectives, as well as providing guidance to those marketing such systems are also included.

Nano- and Microscale Drug Delivery Systems: Design and Fabrication presents the developments that have taken place in recent years in the field of micro- and nanoscale drug delivery systems. Particular attention is assigned to the fabrication and design of drug delivery systems in order to i) reduce the side effects of therapeutic agents, ii) increase their pharmacological effect, and iii) improve aqueous solubility and chemical stability of different therapeutic agents. This book is designed to offer a cogent, concise overview of current scholarship in this important area of research through its focus on the characterization and fabrication of a variety of nanomaterials for drug delivery applications. It is an invaluable reference source for both biomaterials scientists and biomedical engineers who want to learn more about how nanomaterials are engineered and used in the design of drug delivery nanosystems. Shows how micro- and nanomaterials can be engineered to create more effective drug delivery systems Summarizes current nanotechnology research in the field of drug delivery systems Explores the pros and cons of using particular nanomaterials as therapeutic agents Serves as a valuable reference for both biomaterials scientists and biomedical engineers who want to learn more about how nanomaterials are engineered and used in the design of drug delivery nanosystems

This research book covers the major aspects relating to the use of novel delivery systems in enhancing both transdermal and intradermal drug delivery. It provides a review of transdermal and intradermal drug delivery, including the history of the field and the various methods employed to produce delivery systems from different materials such as device design, construction and evaluation, so as to provide a sound background to the use of novel systems in enhanced delivery applications. Furthermore, it presents in-depth analyses of recent developments in this exponentially growing field, with a focus on microneedle arrays, needle-free injections, nanoparticulate systems and peptide-carrier-type systems. It also covers conventional physical enhancement strategies, such as tape-stripping, sonophoresis, iontophoresis, electroporation and thermal/suction/laser ablation Discussions about the penetration of the stratum corneum by the various novel strategies highlight the importance of the application method. Comprehensive and critical reviews of transdermal and intradermal delivery research using such systems focus on the outcomes of in vivoanimal and human studies. The book includes laboratory, clinical and commercial case studies featuring safety and patient acceptability studies carried out to date, and depicts a growing area for use of these novel systems is in intradermal vaccine delivery. The final chapters review recent patents in this field and describe the work ongoing in industry.

Engineering Drug Delivery Systems is an essential resource on a variety of biomaterials engineering approaches for creating drug delivery systems that have market and therapeutic potential. The book comprehensively discusses recent advances in the fields of biomaterials and biomedical sciences in relation to drug delivery. Chapters provide a detailed introduction to various engineering approaches in designing drug delivery systems, delve into the engineering of body functions, cover the selection, design and evaluation of biomaterials, and discuss the engineering of colloids as drug carriers. The book's final chapters address the engineering of implantable drug delivery systems and advances in drug delivery technology. This book is an invaluable resource for drug delivery, materials scientists and bioengineers within the pharmaceutical industry. Examines the properties and synthesis of biomaterials for successful drug delivery Discusses the important connection between drug delivery and tissue engineering Includes techniques and approaches applicable to a wide range of users Reviews innovative technologies in drug delivery systems such as 3-D printed devices for drug delivery

Drug Targeting and Stimuli Sensitive Drug Delivery Systems covers recent advances in the area of stimuli sensitive drug delivery systems, providing an up-to-date overview of the physical, chemical, biological and multistimuli-responsive nanosystems. In addition, the book presents an analysis of clinical status for different types of nanoplatforms. Written by an internationally diverse group of researchers, it is an important reference resource for both biomaterials scientists and those working in the pharmaceutical industry who are looking to help create more effective drug delivery systems. Shows how the use of nanomaterials can help target a drug to specific tissues and cells Explores the development of stimuli-responsive drug delivery systems Includes case studies to showcase how stimuli responsive nanosystems are used in a variety of therapies, including camptothecin delivery, diabetes and cancer therapy