title: Liquid, injectable, hydrophobic and biodegradable polymers as drug delivery vehicles.
abstract: New delivery approaches to achieve minimally invasive, sustained and local release of drugs are needed for more effective treatment of conditions such as cancer and ischemia. Hydrophobic, biodegradable, liquid injectable polymers possess a number of potential advantages for this purpose. This review examines various approaches that have been explored for the preparation of these types of polymers, their ability to control the release of various drugs ranging from low-molecular-weight hydrophobic compounds to protein therapeutics, and finally their degradation rates and the tissue response to them upon implantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. brian.amsden@chee.queensu.ca
authors.forename: Brian G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Amsden
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004337:Drug Carriers; D011108:Polymers / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004337:Drug Carriers; D011108:Polymers