Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 1
Carriers
Rimona Margalit
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology,
George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
rimona@post.tau.ac.il
This chapter focuses on biomaterial-based particulate carriers,
starting with issues that are common to all carriers: the needs that
drive carrier-mediated therapy, essential carrier requirements and
carrier mediated drug targeting. The advantages of biomaterial-
based systems are then discussed in terms of the wide choice of
raw materials, of utilizing nature's sites for targeting and of lowered
risks for treatment safety. Also brought up are drawbacks for such
carriers, in meeting requirements of pharmaceutical products and in
potential adverse immune responses. The drawbacks are expected to
be resolved in the future and even today the benefits of biomaterial-
based carriers outweigh their downside. The concept of pathology-
driven selection of carrier specifications, in particular, size and the
route of administration, is introduced and discussed for a variety
of pathologies. Specific examples are drawn from systemic, oral
and local administrations for the treatment of cancer, diabetes and
osteoarthritis. In conclusion, future prospects for biomaterial-based
particulate drug carriers are deemed quite encouraging.
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