Sakthivel Lakshmana Prabu

By S. Lakshmana Prabu and T. N. K. Suriyaprakash

Part of the book: Applied Biological Engineering

By S. Lakshmana Prabu, T.N.K. Suriyaprakash, K. Ruckmani and R. Thirumurugan

Part of the book: Basic Pharmacokinetic Concepts and Some Clinical Applications

By Sakthivel Lakshmana Prabu and Kandasamy Ruckmani

Nowadays, biopolymers, a class of biomaterials, represent frontier area in the drug delivery systems. Drug release from nano- and microparticles is a complex process, which involves several steps. Uptake of nanoparticle in the intracellular is affected by numerous factors. Recently, gene delivery has been considered one of the promising approaches for the treatment of various diseases acquired genetically in human being. The use of biopolymers as nanoparticles in gene delivery can potentially avoid many of the safety concerns in the gene delivery system. In gene delivery, the genetic materials such as DNA plasmids, RNA and siRNA are either encapsulated inside or conjugated to the nanoparticles, which protects the genetic materials until the drug reaches its target site. Treatment of the diseases is based on the effective delivery of the genetic materials into specific cells that are responsible for disease development. Various properties such as particle size, surface charge, morphology of the surface and release rate of the loaded molecules are the important parameters in the gene delivery system. In this chapter, various biopolymers (cationic polymers) and inorganic non-viral-delivery vectors used in gene delivery used as therapeutic agents are discussed.

Part of the book: Advanced Technology for Delivering Therapeutics

By Sakthivel Lakshmana Prabu, Timmadonu Narasimman Kuppusami Suriyaprakash and Rathinasabapathy Thirumurugan

Delivering the drug to the target site with a desired concentration to provide therapeutic effect is a major problem in the drug delivery system. Effectiveness, poor distribution and lack of selectivity are the drawbacks of the conventional dosage form. Recently Nanotechnology has been given much attention in various fields specifically in the biomedical application. Material includes organic, inorganic, polymeric and lipid-based nanobiomaterials after surface modification; it has been utilized for drug and gene delivery systems. Viral and non-viral vectors are the two types in gene delivery utilizing genetic materials like DNA plasmids, RNA and siRNA. Cellular and extracellular barriers are the two main barriers in gene delivery. The basic mechanism involved in the gene delivery is an introduction of a gene encoding a functional protein altering the expression of an endogenous gene or owning the capacity to cure or prevent the progression of a disease. Nanoparticle surface features like particle shape and surface charge are having major roles in the gene delivery. To provide the site-specific delivery various properties like nature of polymer, particle size, solubility, biocompatibility, biodegradability and nanoparticle surface features are need to be considered. Gene delivery has been utilized for various disease treatments such as cancer, AIDS, and cardiovascular diseases.

Part of the book: Advanced Technology for Delivering Therapeutics

By Sakthivel Lakshmana Prabu, Timmadonu Narasimman Kuppusami Suriyaprakash and Rathinasabapathy Thirumurugan

Part of the book: Intellectual Property Rights

By Sakthivel Lakshmana Prabu and T.N.K. Suriyaprakash

Part of the book: Intellectual Property Rights

By Sakthivel Lakshmana Prabu and Timmakkondu Narasimman Kuppusami Suriyaprakash

Part of the book: Intellectual Property