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Pharmaceutical
Update on Chitosan: A Non-Viral Gene Delivery Vector
Authors
Viola B Morris
Chandra P. Sharma
Among the various natural polymer-based gene delivery vectors, chitosan is the most prominent. As a biocompatible,
biodegradable, nontoxic and easily modifiable material, chitosan has been widely researched for a variety of biomedical
applications such as wound healing, drug/gene delivery systems, implant coatings and tissue engineering/regeneration.
Chitosan, being a linear cationic polysaccharide, consists of 14 linked glucosamine partly containing N-acetylglucosamine.
It was first described as a delivery system for plasmids by Mumper’s group in 1995. The role of chitosan in gene delivery was
supported by its ability to protonate in acidic conditions and to form complexes with anionic DNA by electrostatic interactions. The
biodegradable cationic polymer chitosan is capable of forming small and stable toroidal complexes with plasmid DNA and provide
protection against DNase that is comparable to PEI.
The objective of this book is to integrate the concepts related to chitosan and its derivative-based drug/gene delivery carriers.
For example, the success of the gene delivery system mainly depends upon the uptake by the cells, unpacking behaviour of pDNA/
siRNA from the vector and its intracellular trafficking. Such concepts are introduced and discussed, in addition to the various
applications of chitosan as a drug delivery system in wound healing, tissue engineering and in gene delivery.
This book is an excellent resource for the academic faculty, graduate students and professionals interested in chitosan-based
drug/gene technologies.
PUBLICATION DATE: JUNE 2012
FORMAT: Hardback ISBN: 9781847356666 GB: £80 US: $130 EU: €100
FORMAT: eBOOK ISBN: 9781847356680 GB: £80 US: $130 EU: €100
Update on Life Cycle Strategy for New Implants and Medical Devices
Author
Marvi Sri Harwoko
With the emergence of new therapies for diseases which affect vital organs either partially or as a whole, the complexity of the
parameter interaction and the variety of new discoveries opens many possibilities to implement these proposals into clinical use.
Unfortunately, this diversity can also handicap an efficient design process.
Therefore, a practical tool has to be developed, which in the early development stages, systematically supports the product and
process optimization by preparing and providing information and knowledge.
This book details such a methodology for systematizing the product design process, which uses a knowledge-based design
process, a customer-oriented engineering process, and a business supporting life cycle model.
This book describes how this methodology can be used as a product design guidance tool for supporting the development of a new
implant. The methodology resolves the development complexity by using a series of logical steps and provides researchers with
the means to assess these steps as soon as possible for anticipating and removing subsequent useless steps. The methodology
requires a systematization which supports a procedure for sustainable development and which will guide the industrialization of a
new therapy in life sciences.
PUBLICATION DATE: OCTOBER 2012
FORMAT: Hardback ISBN: 9781847354396 GB: £80 US: $130 EU: €100
FORMAT: eBOOK ISBN: 9781847354419 GB: £80 US: $130 EU: €100
or contact us directly: 8: cparkinson@smithers.com (: UK: +44 (0)1939 250383
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