1. Polymeric Drug Carrier Systems in the Brain
- Author
-
Abraham J. Domb and Israel Ringel
- Subjects
Drug ,Biocompatibility ,business.industry ,media_common.quotation_subject ,Human brain ,Pharmacology ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,Cerebrospinal fluid ,Targeted drug delivery ,Polymeric drug ,Medicine ,business ,Polyanhydrides ,Stereotactic neurosurgery ,media_common - Abstract
Publisher Summary This chapter reviews developments on the use of polymer-based implantable systems for the delivery of drugs to the brain. Implantation of drug-loaded polymeric devices directly into the brain provides effective drug concentrations into the diseased tissue and minimizes problems associated with systemic delivery of the drug, such as systemic side effects, peripheral drug inactivation, poor drug absorption, serum protein binding, inadequate BBB penetration, and poor patient compliance. In addition, the implants can be placed in specific regions of the brain, thereby avoiding undesirable distribution of the drug throughout the brain, which is frequently a problem with administration into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The studies reviewed in this chapter demonstrate the usefulness of direct delivery of bioactive agents to the human brain, using biodegradable polymeric implants. Available stereotactic neurosurgery techniques combined with computerized tomography (CT) scan methods permit the accurate placement of these polymeric implants at specific locations in human patients. Several bioerodible polymer carriers including polyanhydrides and poly(lactide-glycolide) have also shown good biocompatibility and biodegradability in animals and in the human brain.
- Published
- 1994
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