Biomaterials in Drug Delivery Systems

Drug delivery research is advancing day by day due to the advancement of science and technology, which helps cure many diseases. Traditionally, drugs are administered to the body either orally or through injections. It is imperative to take several factors into account when delivering a specific drug with pharmacologically active ingredients. These factors include the drug’s cellular efficiency, pharmacokinetics, therapeutic efficiency, cellular uptake, and its effect on metabolism, exercise, and cellular toxicity. The use of biomaterials can enhance both injectable and oral drug delivery, as well as ocular, pulmonary, nasal, and transdermal drug delivery. Metals, glass, ceramics, and oscular are examples of biomaterials used in drug delivery. These materials can also be found in orthopedic devices, contact lenses, heart valves, and pacemakers. Biomaterials are categorized as either naturally driven or synthetically driven. It is most common to use synthetically driven polymers for drug delivery systems. As the polymeric drug is inoculated inside the body, its morphology changes from a sol to a gel. It is imperative to note that these gel formulations react differently to temperature, ultraviolet irradiation, ions, and pH changes. This book chapter presents a comprehensive analysis of polymeric systems used in drug delivery, their types, formulations, advancements, and drawbacks.