title: Fibrin matrices: The versatile therapeutic delivery systems.
abstract: Fibrin sealants, that have been employed for over a century by surgeons to stop post surgery bleeding, are finding novel applications in the controlled delivery of antibiotics and several other therapeutics. Fibrinogen can be easily purified from blood plasma and converted by thrombolysis to fibrin that undergoes spontaneous aggregation to form insoluble clot. During the gelling, fibrin can be formulated into films, clots, threads, microbeads, nanoconstructs and nanoparticles. Whole plasma clots in the form of beads and microparticles can also be prepared by activating endogenous thrombin, for possible drug delivery. Fibrin formulations offer remarkable scope for controlling the porosity as well as in vivo degradability and hence the release of the associated therapeutics. Binding/covalent-linking of therapeutics to the fibrin matrix, crosslinking of the matrix with bifunctional reagents and coentrapment of protease inhibitors have been successful in regulating both in vitro and in vivo release of the therapeutics. The release rates can also be remarkably lowered by preentrapment of therapeutics in insoluble particles like liposomes or by anchoring them to the matrix via molecules that bind them as well as fibrin.
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002, India.
authors.forename: Ejaj
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002, India.
authors.forename: Munazza Tamkeen
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Fatima
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002, India.
authors.forename: Mehboob
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hoque
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002, India.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Owais
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002, India. Electronic address: msaleemuddin@rediffmail.com.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saleemuddin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005337:Fibrin / Q000737:chemistry*; D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D010949:Plasma / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive; D005337:Fibrin
keywords: Drug delivery; Fibrin microthreads; Fibrinogen; Plasma beads; Plasma microparticle