Biodegradable Hydrogels for Drug Delivery

Chapters, sub-chapters and selected sub-sections, some condensed for this space. All chapters end with a section of References. Introductiono Controlled Release Drug Delivery Systems o Hydrogels: Definition, Hydrogel as a Biomaterial, Biodegradable Hydrogels Biodegradationo Definitions: Bioresorption, Bioabsorption, Bioerosion, Biodeterioration o Mechanisms: Solubilization, Charge Formation Followed by Dissolution o Chemical Hydrolysis of Polymers:Enzyme-Catalyzed Hydrolysis o Biodegradable Hydrogels Types of Biodegradable Hydrogelso Hydrogels with Degradable Polymer Backbone: Crosslinked Hydrogels, Noncrosslinked Hydrogels o Hydrogels with Degradable Crosslinking Agents: Crosslinked with Small Molecules, Crosslinked with Oligopeptides, Crosslinked with Macromolecules o Hydrogels with Degradable Pendant Chains Chemical Gelso Polymerization in the Presence of Crosslinking Agents: Introduction of Double Bonds to Macromolecules, Determination of Double Bonds on the Macromonomers o Crosslinking of Water-Soluble Polymers: Crosslinking with Functional Groups, Nonspecific Crosslinking, Determination of the Degree of Crosslinking Physical Gelso Thermoreversible Gelling System: Gels with Thermomelting Properties,Gels with Thermogelation Properties o Thermoreversible Gelling Polysaccharides: Water-Soluble Polysaccharides, Gel-Forming Polysaccharides o Physical Gelation by Ion Complexation: Polymers with Hydroxyl Groups, Carrageenan, Gellan, Pectin, Alginate, Polyphosphazenes, Other Polyanions, Chitosan o Physical Gelation by Specific Interactions: Fibrin Gel, Mucus Gel, Actin Gel, Avidin-Biotin Mediated Gel, Antibody Mediated Gel, Lectin-Mediated Gel oDetermination of the Crosslink Density Chemically-Induced Degradationo Chemically-Induced Hydrolysis in the Body: Distribution and Elimination, Factors Influencing Chemically-Induced Hydrolysis o Chemically-Induced Hydrolysis of Polye