Half Title page -- Title page -- Copyright page -- Dedication -- Preface -- Chapter 1: Bioactive Polysaccharides of Vegetable and Microbial Origins: An Overview -- 1.1 Introduction -- 1.2 Anticarcinogenic Polysaccharides -- 1.3 Anti-inflammatory/Immunostimulating Polysaccharides -- 1.4 Antiviral Polysaccharides -- 1.5 Antioxidant Polysaccharides -- 1.6 Other Biotechnological Applications -- 1.7 Conclusions and Future Perspectives -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Chapter 2: Chitosan: An Emanating Polymeric Carrier for Drug Delivery -- 2.1 Introduction -- 2.2 Preparation of Chitosan -- 2.3 Physicochemical Properties of Chitosan -- 2.4 Biological Activities of Chitosan -- 2.5 Pharmaceutical Applications of Chitosan -- 2.6 Functionalization of Chitosan -- 2.7 Conclusion and Future Perspectives -- References -- Chapter 3: Fungi as Sources of Polysaccharides for Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Applications -- 3.1 Introduction -- 3.2 The Fungal Cell -- 3.3 Polysaccharides Produced by Fungi -- 3.4 Production and Extraction of Polysaccharides from Fungi -- 3.5 Fungal Polysaccharides in Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Applications -- 3.6 Commercial Exploitation of Fungal Polysaccharides in Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Applications -- 3.7 Conclusion and Future Perspective -- References -- Chapter 4: Environmentally Responsive Chitosan-based Nanocarriers (CBNs) -- 4.1 Introduction -- 4.2 Graft Copolymerized CBNs -- 4.3 pH-Sensitive CBNs -- 4.4 Thermosensitive CBNs -- 4.5 pH-Sensitive and Thermosensitive CBNs -- 4.6 pH- and Ionic-Sensitive CBNs -- 4.7 Photosensitive CBNs -- 4.8 Electrical-Sensitive CBNs -- 4.9 Magneto-Responsive CBNs -- 4.10 Chemo-Sensitive CBNs -- 4.11 Biodegradation of Chitosan and Its Derivatives -- 4.12 Toxicity of CBNs -- 4.13 Conclusions and Future Perspectives -- References.

Chapter 5: Biomass Derived and Biomass Inspired Polymers in Pharmaceutical Applications -- 5.1 Introduction -- 5.2 Biodegradable Polymers in Biomedical Applications - Relevant Aspects -- 5.3 Biodegradable Natural Polymers in Pharmaceutical Applications -- 5.4 Micro- and Nanocrystalline Natural Polymers and Fibrils - General Regulative Considerations -- 5.5 Concluding Remarks and Outlook -- References -- Chapter 6: Modification of Cyclodextrin for Improvement of Complexation and Formulation Properties -- Abbrevations: -- 6.1 Introduction -- 6.2 Cyclodextrin and Its Degradation -- 6.3 Complexation by CDs and Release -- 6.4 Modifications and Scope with Respect to Pharmaceutical Application -- 6.5 Concluding Remarks -- Acknowledgements -- References -- Chapter 7: Cellulose-, Ethylene Oxide- and Acrylic-Based Polymers in Assembled Module Technology (Dome Matrix®) -- 7.1 Dome Matrix® Technology -- 7.2 Polymers for Controlled Drug Release -- 7.3 Cellulose Derivatives -- 7.4 Acrylic Acid Polymers -- 7.5 Polymethacrylates -- 7.6 Polyethylene Oxide -- 7.7 Conclusions -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Chapter 8: Structured Biodegradable Polymers for Drug Delivery -- 8.1 Introduction -- 8.2 Classification -- 8.3 Degradation Processes in Biodegradable Polymers -- 8.4 Responsive Stimuli-Sensitive Polymers -- 8.5 Conclusion and Future Prospects -- References -- Chapter 9: Current State of the Potential Use of Chitosan as Pharmaceutical Excipient -- 9.1 The World of Pharmaceutical Excipients -- 9.2 Chitosan -- 9.3 Activities Found for Chitosan -- 9.4 Properties of Chitosan -- 9.5 Applications as a Pharmaceutical Excipient -- 9.6 Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 10: Modification of Gums: Synthesis Techniques and Pharmaceutical Benefits -- 10.1 Introduction -- 10.2 Synthesis of Modified Gums -- 10.3 Characterization.

10.4 Pharmaceutical Applications of Modified Gums -- 10.5 Conclusion and Future Prospective -- References -- Chapter 11: Biomaterials for Functional Applications in the Oral Cavity via Contemporary Multidimensional Science -- 11.1 Introduction -- 11.2 Free Radical Formation, Antioxidants and Relevance in Health -- 11.3 Oral Diseases: Oxidative Stress and the Role of Antioxidant Defenses in the Oral Cavity -- 11.4 Biomaterials and Intelligent Design of Functional Biomaterials -- 11.5 In-Vitro Developments of Free Radical Defense Mechanisms and Drug-Delivery Systems -- 11.6 Practical In-Vitro Applications of Chitosan-Based Functional Biomaterial Prototypes in Dentistry -- 11.7 Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 12: Role of Polymers in Ternary Drug Cyclodextrin Complexes -- 12.1 Introduction -- 12.2 Cyclodextrins (Cycloamyloses, Cyclomaltoses, Schardinger Dextrins) -- 12.3 Role of Biodegradable/Water-Soluble Polymers in Efficacy of Inclusion Complexes -- 12.4 Solubility, Dissolution and Bioavailability Enhancement: Case Studies -- 12.5 Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 13: Collagen-Based Materials for Pharmaceutical Applications -- 13.1 Introduction -- 13.3 Preparation Methods of Collagen-Based Biomaterials -- 13.4 Pharmaceutical Applications of Collagen-Based Products -- 13.5 Concluding Remarks and Future Perspectives -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Chapter 14: Natural Polysaccharides as Pharmaceutical Excipients -- 14.1 Introduction -- 14.2 Natural Polysaccharides -- 14.3 Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 15: Structure, Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Applications of Biodegradable Polymers -- 15.1 Introduction -- 15.2 History of Polymers -- 15.3 Concept of Biodegradability -- 15.4 Biodegradable Polymers and Their Classification -- 15.5 Biocompatibility of Biodegradable Polymers -- 15.6 Biodegradable Polymers in Pharmaceutical Applications.

15.7 Development of Various Biodegradable Polymer Systems for Drug Delivery -- 15.8 Future Prospects -- Acknowledgment -- References -- Chapter 16: Preparation and Properties of Biopolymers: A Critical Review -- 16.1 Introduction -- 16.2 Nature of Biopolymers -- 16.3 Common Biopolymers -- 16.4 Biopolymers in Drug Development -- 16.5 Biobased Polymers Production -- 16.6 Properties of Biopolymers -- 16.6 Conclusion and Remarks -- Acknowledgement -- References -- Chapter 17: Engineering Biodegradable Polymers to Control Their Degradation and Optimize Their Use as Delivery and Theranostic Systems -- 17.1 Introduction -- 17.2 Nanotechnology -- 17.3 Nanostructured Biodegradable Polymers -- 17.4 Design Strategies for Fluorescent Biodegradable Polymeric Systems -- 17.5 Conclusions and Perspectives -- References -- Index.