Abstract

NATURAL POLYMERS BASED DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS

Jaswinder Singh*

ABSTRACT

Polymers are utilized in drug delivery to provide weight, consistency and in addition, they are multi-functional providing stability, drug release, targeting, enhanced bioavailability and patient acceptability. A polymer is a large molecule (macromolecules) composed of repeating structural units. These subunits are typically connected by covalent chemical bonds. Polymers are broadly classified as natural polymers and synthetic polymers. Natural polymers are materials of large molecular weights from natural origins such as plants, microorganisms and animals. In comparison to synthetic, natural polymers remain attractive primarily because they are inexpensive, readily available, capable of multitude of chemical modifications and potentially biodegradable and compatible due to their origin. Natural polymers possess wide scope in drug, food and cosmetic industries. Natural polymers are biogenic and their biological properties such as cell recognition and interactions, enzymatic degradability, semblance to the extracellular matrix and their chemical flexibility make them materials of choice for drug delivery. Natural polymers are continually being explored in innovative approaches to drug delivery and personalized medicines. Natural polymers used in various formulations like microspheres, nanoparticles, tablets, gels, implants, niosomes, liposomes etc. have shown the additional effect which is helpful in growing up the property of the system. Increasing application of natural polymers in drug delivery implies increase in demand indicating the need for research and development into new natural polymers for subsequent commercialization.

Keywords: Natural polymers, nanoparticles, niosomes, liposomes, implants.