New approaches to targeting bioactive compounds

Micellar Enzymology- Chemistry and Applications

Enzymes in aqueous environment usually deal with purified enzyme preparations isolated from living matter which does not mimic real catalytic properties in vivo. Interaction of enzymes in nature takes place with different surfaces composed from lipid membranes or they get incorporated into biomembranes. Although Water is not a dominating component in the cytoplasm but plays a structural role by participating in the formation of biocatalytic complexes like glycoproteins. Water is needed to keep biocatalyst in active confirmation and hence plays very crucial role in biocatalytic reactions, activity and stability so that it can be used for various applications. This review focuses on composition, preparation properties and parameters which influence enzymes in reverse micelles and application of micellar enzymology to study protein chemistry, shifting equilibrium of various reactions, to recover various products by partition chromatography and bioremediation of chlorophenolic environmental pollutants.

Block copolymeric biotransport carriers as versatile vehicles for drug delivery

This review describes block co-polymer-based systems that are used in drug delivery. The main focus is on amphiphilic block co-polymers, the application of which modifies the pharmacological performance of various classes of drugs and is attracting more and more attention. The two main reasons for this are the high tendency of block co-polymer-based drug formulations to self-assemble and the flexibility of block co-polymer chemistry, which allows precise tailoring of the carrier to virtually any chemical entity. The combination of these and some other features makes it possible to adjust block co-polymer-based drug formulations to achieve the most beneficial balance in their biological interactions (biotransport), with systems that control drug removal from the body and those that are responsible for drug therapeutic activity. The following major aspects are considered: The role of physical properties of formulations in their pharmacological performance. The chemistry and physico-chemistry of block co-polymers and structure-function relationships in these systems. Examples describing the effects of biotransport systems on drug transport and activity in cells and some results on their in vivo applications with various drugs.

Block copolymeric biotransport carriers as versatile vehicles for drug delivery

This review describes block copolymer-based systems that are used in drug formulation development. The use of amphiphilic block copolymers to modify pharmacological performance of various classes of drugs attracts more and more attention. This is largely attributable to the high tendency of block copolymer-based drug formulations to self-assemble, as well as flexibility of block copolymer chemistry, which allows precise tailoring of the carrier to virtually any chemical entity. Combination of these features allows adjustment of block copolymer-based drug formulations to achieve the most beneficial balance in drug biological interactions with the systems that control its circulation in and removal from the body and its therapeutic activity. The following major aspects are considered: 1) physical properties of formulations and the methods used to adjust these properties towards the highest pharmacological performance of the product; 2) combinatorial methods for optimisation of block copolymer-based formulations; 3) biological response modifying properties of block copolymer-based formulations.