title: Poly(ϵ-caprolactone) microcapsules and nanocapsules in drug delivery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Poly(ϵ-caprolactone) (PCL), a biodegradable and biocompatible polymer, is useful to encapsulate a wide range of drugs making it an interesting material for the preparation of carriers with potential applications in therapeutics.
  
  
  METHODS
  The design and development of those carriers to modulate drug release, to improve the drug stability or apparent solubility in aqueous media, as well as to target tissues and organs are discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Microencapsulation is a well-established process in pharmaceutical industry to protect drugs from chemical degradation and to control drug release. In this context, PCL is a useful polymer to prepare microcapsules. Nanoencapsulation, a more recent approach, offers new possibilities in drug delivery. PCL can be used as polymer to prepare different types of nanocapsules presenting diverse flexibility according to the chemical nature of the core. Those nanocapsules are capable of controlling drug release and improving photochemical stability. In addition, they can modulate cutaneous drug penetration/permeation and act as physical sunscreen due to their capability of light scattering. Considering the pharmaceutical point of view, PCL nanocapsules are versatile formulations, once they can be used in the liquid form, as well as incorporated into semi-solid or solid dosage forms.
authors: Departamento de Química Orgânica, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av Bento Gonçalves, 9500, PBox 15003, Porto Alegre, CEP 91501-970, RS, Brazil. adriana.pohlmann@ufrgs.br
authors: Adriana Raffin
authors: AR
authors: Pohlmann
authors: Francisco Noe
authors: FN
authors: Fonseca
authors: Karina
authors: K
authors: Paese
authors: Cassia Britto
authors: CB
authors: Detoni
authors: Karine
authors: K
authors: Coradini
authors: Ruy Cr
authors: RC
authors: Beck
authors: Silvia S
authors: SS
authors: Guterres
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002214:Capsules / Q000737:chemistry*; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D004339:Drug Compounding; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004355:Drug Stability; D006801:Humans; D053769:Nanocapsules / Q000737:chemistry*; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism; D012995:Solubility; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002214:Capsules; D053769:Nanocapsules; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D013473:Sunscreening Agents; C016240:polycaprolactone