Pharmaceuticals: Microspheres, Nanospheres, and Hydrogel Systems

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What can trigger physical cross-linking in hydrogels?

Adding cross-linking entities to covalently bond
Change of pH, temperature, or ionic strength (correct)
Forming a second hydrogel network within a prepolymerized hydrogel
Copolymerization or ionic interactions

What is a limitation of using hydrogel systems for drug delivery?

Rapid swelling with water leading to slow release of the loaded drug
Rapid swelling with water leading to fast release of the loaded drug (correct)
Inability to modify the microstructure of hydrogels
Inability to form covalent bonds between drugs and hydrogels

What is a strategy to extend the effectiveness of hydrogels for drug delivery?

Forming a second hydrogel network within a prepolymerized hydrogel (correct)
Decreasing the percentage of cross-linking monomer incorporated in the gel
Reducing the ionic interactions between the drug and hydrogel
Using microspheres or nanospheres based on more hydrophilic polymers

What type of nanoparticles have been incorporated into dextran hydrogels for oral formulations?

Solid lipid nanoparticles (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of hydrophilic drugs delivered through hydrogel systems?

Release period of hours to days (C) Signup and view all the answers

What type of hydrogels have been developed for the treatment of ear disorders?

Multiple injectable hydrogels (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of DCM evaporation and polymer hardening in nanoparticle-based delivery?

Trapping of the drug inside the particles (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of hydrogels that allows them to be highly absorbent?

Three-dimensional cross-linked networks (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary advantage of using biodegradable hydrogels as carriers for controlled drug delivery?

Biocompatibility and inertness toward various drugs (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the factor that significantly affects the drug release rate in hydrogel-based delivery systems?

Diffusion coefficient of the drug molecules (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of controlling the degree of cross-linking in hydrogel-based delivery systems?

To tune the release rate of the entrapped drug particles (D) Signup and view all the answers

What are the two methods of preparing hydrogels?

Physical and chemical cross-linking (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of nonbiodegradable implants?

They are made of polymers such as silicone, polyvinyl alcohol, and ethylene vinyl acetate (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is a limitation of implant drug delivery systems?

They require surgical implantation and potential removal (C) Signup and view all the answers

What type of device is characterized by a drug being distributed throughout a monolithic non-eroding matrix?

Matrix-type device (C) Signup and view all the answers

What hydrogel-based delivery system has been shown to demonstrate hearing improvement in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss?

Insulin-like growth factor delivered by gelatin hydrogels (A) Signup and view all the answers

How many implants for the eye have been approved by the FDA?

Three (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of biodegradable implants?

They are made of polymers that can break down (B) Signup and view all the answers