This volume comprises the proceedings of a NATO Advanced Study Institute held at Geilo, Norway, 24 March - 3 April 2003, the seventeenth ASI in a series held every two years since 1971. The objective of this ASI was to identify and discuss areas where synergism between modern physics, soft condensed matter and biology might be most fruitful. The main pedagogical approach was to have lecturers focussing on basic understanding of important aspects of the relative role of the various interaction- electrostatic, hydrophobic, steric, conformational, van der Waals etc. Soft condensed matter and the connection between physics and biology have been the themes of several earlier Geilo Schools. A return to these subjects thus allowed a fresh look and a possibility for defining new directions for research. Examples of soft materials, which were discussed at this ASI, included colloidal dispersions, gels, biopolymers and charged polymer solutions, polyelectrolytes, protein/membrane complexes, nucleic acids and their complexes. Indeed, most forms of condensed matter are soft and these substances are composed of aggregates and macromolecules, with interactions that are too weak and complex to form crystals spontaneously. A characteristic feature is that small external forces, slight perturbations in temperature, pressure or concentration, can all be enough to induce significant structural changes. Thermal fluctuations are almost by definition strong in soft materials and entropy is a predominant determinant of structure, so that disorder, slow dynamics and plastic deformation are the rule. Hence the phrase ‘soft condensed matter’ has been coined.

Organic Materials as Smart Nanocarriers for Drug Delivery presents the latest developments in the area of organic frameworks used in pharmaceutical nanotechnology. An up-to-date overview of organic smart nanocarriers is explored, along with the different types of nanocarriers, including polymeric micelles, cyclodextrins, hydrogels, lipid nanoparticles and nanoemlusions. Written by a diverse range of international academics, this book is a valuable reference for researchers in biomaterials, the pharmaceutical industry, and those who want to learn more about the current applications of organic smart nanocarriers. - Explores the most recent molecular- and structure-based applications of organic smart nanocarriers in drug delivery - Highlights different smart nanocarriers and assesses their intricate organic structural properties for improving drug delivery - Assesses how molecular organic frameworks lead to more effective drug delivery systems

Systems of Nanovesicular Drug Delivery provides a thorough insight into the complete and up-to-date discussions about the preparation, properties and drug delivery applications of various nanovesicles. This volume discusses cubosomes, proniosomes and niosomes, dendrimerosomes and other new and effective approaches for drug delivery. It will be a valuable title and resource for academics and pharmaceutical scientists, including industrial pharmacists, analytical scientists, health care professionals and regulatory scientists actively involved in pharmaceutical products and process development of tailor-made polysaccharides in drug delivery applications. Recently, there have been a number of outstanding nanosystems in nanovesicular carrier-forms (such as nanoemulsions, self-nanoemulsifying systems, nanoliposomes, nanotransferosomes, etc.), that have been researched and developed for efficient drug delivery by many formulators, researchers and scientists. However, no previously published books have covered all these drug delivery nanovesicles collectively in a single resource. Provides thorough insights and up-to-date discussions about the various systems of nanovesicular drug delivery Covers advanced trigger-assisted systems (such as iontophoresis, ultra-sound triggering, etc.) and how they have been used for improved drug delivery by nanovesicles Presents recent advances in drug delivery fields by global leaders and experts from academia, research, industry and regulatory agencies Includes an updated literature review of relevant key topics, good quality illustrations, chemical structures, attractive flow charts and well-organized tables