Transport studies on macromolecules used as drug carriers

Molecular transport of drugs through carrier polymeric materials has been an active area of research. A number of soluble polymers have been used to deliver the drugs selectively to specific parts of the body. The literature in this area of research is extensive and diverse. An effort has been made to review the transport of drug molecules through physiological systems via polymeric materials. A brief introduction to the fundamentals and concepts which are frequently used in the drug-delivery area are covered in the following sections. Various aspects of the problems related to polymer-drug complexes, carrier molecules, and their degradability have been discussed. Both natural and synthetic biopolymers have been included in the discussion. Representative references during the period 1977-1989 have been used in the discussion of results.