Polymeric controlled drug-delivery systems: perspective issues and opportunities

Although, the drug-delivery system (DDS) concept is not new, great progress has been made recently in the treatment of a variety of diseases. Targeting delivery of drugs to the diseased lesions is one of the most important aspects of DDS. To convey a sufficient dose of drug to the lesion, suitable carriers of drugs are needed. Polymers, which swell and contract in response to external pH levels, are being explored. The research in this area is being carried out all over the world at a great pace. Not only that new developments are emerging in the existing technologies, but also various new technologies are being developed and tested. Consequently, a huge amount of new information is available, which should be compiled and presented in a comprehensive way to benefit large numbers of users in this area as well as to help active research workers in the field. The purpose of this review is to discuss some recent advances and future prospects in controlled drug-delivery technology. The article serves as a useful tool for the beginners as well as for the researchers actively involved in this fascinating area of applied polymer science.