Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-mkpzs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-22T18:50:01.369Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Intelligent Biomaterials as Pharmaceutical Carriers in Microfabricated and Nanoscale Devices

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2011

Get access

Abstract

The emergence of micro- and nanoscale science and engineering has provided new avenues for engineering materials with macromolecular and even molecular-scale precision, leading to diagnostic and therapeutic technologies that will revolutionize the way healthcare is administered. Biomaterials have evolved from off-the-shelf products to materials designed with molecular precision to exhibit the desired properties for a specific application, often mimicking biological systems. Controlling interactions at the level of natural building blocks, from proteins to cells, facilitates the novel exploration, manipulation, and application of living systems and biological phenomena. In addition, polymer networks with precisely engineered binding sites have been created via molecular imprinting, where functional monomers are preassembled with a target molecule and then the structure is locked with network formation. Nanoscale science and engineering have accelerated the development of novel drug delivery systems and led to enhanced control over how a given pharmaceutical is administered, helping biological potential to be transformed into medical reality. Micro- and nanoscale devices have been fabricated using integrated-circuit processing techniques, enabling strict temporal control over drug release. The advantages of these microdevices include simple release mechanisms, very accurate dosing, the capability of complex release patterns, the potential for local delivery, and possible biological drug stability enhancement by means of storage in a microvolume that can be precisely controlled. In particular, the development of polymer systems that are able to interact with their environment in a thermodynamically responsive manner has led to novel intelligent biomaterials and applications. Intelligent biomedical materials can be used for the delivery of drugs, peptides, and proteins; as targeting agents for site-specific delivery; or as components for the preparation of protein or drug conjugates. These intelligent materials are attractive options as functional components in micro- and nanodevices because of the ease with which recognition and actuation properties can be precisely tailored. Recent developments in intelligent materials and nano- or microdevices for drug delivery systems are the emphasis of this review, which addresses the use of intelligent biomedical materials as carriers for the development of novel pharmaceutical formulations.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2006

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Langer, R. and Peppas, N.A.AIChE J. 49 (2003) p.2990.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2. Vakkalanka, S.K.Brazel, C.S. and Peppas, N.A.J. Biomed. Mater. Sci., Polym. Ed. 8 (1996) p.119.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3. Hoffman, A.S. in Controlled Drug Delivery Challenges and Strategies, edited by Park, K. (ACS, Washington, DC, 1997) p.485.Google Scholar
4. Park, K.Controlled Release: Challenges and Strategies (ACS, Washington, DC, 1997).Google Scholar
5. Baumgartner, S.Kristl, J. and Peppas, N.A.Pharm. Res. 19 (2002) p.1084.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6. Peppas, N.A.Bures, P.Leobandung, W. and Ichikawa, H.Eur. J. Pharm. Biopharm. 50 (2000) p.27.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7. Peppas, N.A.Hydrogels in Medicine and Pharmacy (CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 1987).Google Scholar
8. Brannon-Peppas, L., Med. Plast. Biomater. 4 (1997) p.34.Google Scholar
9. Lowman, A.M. and Peppas, N.A. in Encyclopedia of Controlled Drug Delivery, edited by Mathiowitz, E. (Wiley, New York, 1999) p. 397.Google Scholar
10. Narasimhan, B. and Peppas, N.A. in Controlled Release: Challenges and Strategies, edited by Park, K. (ACS, Washington, DC, 1997) p.529.Google Scholar
11. Brazel, C.S. and Peppas, N.A.Polymer 40 (1999) p.3383.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
12. Khare, A.R. and Peppas, N.A.Biomaterials 16 (1995) p.559.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
13. Brannon-Peppas, L. and Peppas, N.A.Chem. Eng. Sci. 46 (1991) p.715.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
14. Hilt, J.Z. and Peppas, N.A.Int. J.Pharm. 306 (2005) p.15.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
15. Langer, R. and Tirrell, D.A.Nature 428 (2004) p.487.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
16. Petka, W.A.Harden, J.L.McGrath, K.P.Wirtz, D. and Tirrell, D.A.Science 281 (1998) p.389.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
17. Deming, T.J.Nature 390 (1997) p.386.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
18. Holmes, T.C.Lacalle, S. de, Su, X.Liu, G.Rich, A. and Zhang, S.Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 97 (2000) p.6728.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
19. Tu, R.S. and Tirrell, M.Adv. Drug Deliv. Rev. 56 (2004) p.1537.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
20. Bellomo, E.G.Wyrsta, W.D.Pakstits, L.Pochan, D.J. and Deming, T.J.Nat. Mater. 3 (2004) p.244.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
21. Venkatesh, S.Byrne, M.E.Peppas, N.A. and Hilt, J.Z.Expert Opin. Drug Deliv. 2 (2005) p. 1085.CrossRefGoogle Scholar