Composites in Localized Controlled Drug Delivery Systems (LCDDSs)

Localized controlled drug delivery systems (LCDDSs) have become the main topic in drug delivery, tissue engineering and pharmaceutical science by enhancing formulations and processes of controlled delivery. The side effects and problems of materials/biomaterials are critical and may lead to several issues, such as reducing the effective drug dose, delaying the treatment process, and not having a particular continuous treatment. Therefore, composites composed of hybrid materials/biomaterials with excellent release properties, biocompatibility, stability and biodegradability, with local adjusted release rates, are an alternate choice for protective drug delivery. Several approaches to fabricating composite-based LCDDSs include emulsification-solvent evaporation, spray drying, electrospraying, supercritical fluids processing, microfluidics, and nanoprecipitation/solvent displacement and emulsion. This chapter describes the advances in micro/nanoscaled composite-based LCDDSs and their fabrication methods. 

Keywords: Drug delivery, Fabrication methods, Microfluidics, Microscaled composites, Nanoscaled composites, Release properties.