Alginates in Pharmaceutics and Biomedicine: Is the Future so Bright?

Title:Alginates in Pharmaceutics and Biomedicine: Is the Future so Bright?

Volume: 21 Issue: 33

Author(s): Stefano Giovagnoli, Giovanni Luca, Paolo Blasi, Francesca Mancuso, Aurélie Schoubben, Iva Arato, Mario Calvitti, Giulia Falabella, Giuseppe Basta, Maria Bodo, Riccardo Calafiore and Maurizio Ricci

Affiliation:

Keywords: Alginate, microencapsulation, alginate drug delivery systems, cell microencapsulation, clinical studies, cell transplantation.

Abstract: Alginate represents one of the most appealing biopolymers for pharmaceutical and biomedical applications. Alginate as a biomaterial for clinical use has been established, although not free from issues. Here we provide a critical review on some of the main recent advances in alginate research in drug delivery and its prominent role in cell microencapsulation for the treatment of diseases, such as type 1 diabetes mellitus. A brief description of the basic properties of the polymer will be provided as well. Based on our experience and contributions, as well as wide research in the field, the correlation between physicochemical and biological properties of alginate systems and clinical outcomes will be investigated and discussed to address the actual future clinical impact of alginatebased delivery strategies.

Cite this article as:

Giovagnoli Stefano, Luca Giovanni, Blasi Paolo, Mancuso Francesca, Schoubben Aurélie, Arato Iva, Calvitti Mario, Falabella Giulia, Basta Giuseppe, Bodo Maria, Calafiore Riccardo and Ricci Maurizio, Alginates in Pharmaceutics and Biomedicine: Is the Future so Bright?, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2015; 21 (33) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612821666150820105639