Alginate Microcapsules for Drug Delivery

Currently, conventional drug delivery systems do not provide adequate therapeutic profiles for the management of multiple diseases. In this regard, cell encapsulation technology emerges as a suitable alternative. Undoubtedly, one of the most employed biomaterials for this purpose is alginate, since...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: González Pujana, Ainhoa, Orive Arroyo, Gorka, Pedraz Muñoz, José Luis, Santos Vizcaíno, Edorta, Hernández Martín, Rosa María
Tipo de recurso: capítulo de libro
Fecha de publicación:2017
País:España
Institución:Universidad del País Vasco
Repositorio:Addi. Archivo Digital para la Docencia y la Investigación
OAI Identifier:oai:addi.ehu.eus:10810/72013
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10810/72013
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:alginate
encapsulation
drug-delivery
cell therapy
hydrogel
microcapsule
protein release
microbead
biomolecules
xenotransplantation
Descripción
Sumario:Currently, conventional drug delivery systems do not provide adequate therapeutic profiles for the management of multiple diseases. In this regard, cell encapsulation technology emerges as a suitable alternative. Undoubtedly, one of the most employed biomaterials for this purpose is alginate, since it presents multiple advantages that favor the development of this technology. Importantly, the thorough study concerning the purification and modification of the polymer has led to biocompatible alginates, a vital advancement for the correct function of the system. Furthermore, the possibility to entrap different cell types together with the plausibility of engineering cells to produce disparate therapeutic biomolecules has given rise to numerous applications. That is the case of relevant and prevalent diseases nowadays such as diabetes, cancer, or neurological diseases. Intensive research in the field has resulted in promising preclinical studies in animal models that have instigated the conduction of several clinical trials. Nonetheless, addressing some current challenges regarding aspects such as biosafety or biofunctionalization seems to be a prerequisite before the clinical translation.