Polymer Nanoparticles for Nanomedicines

Christine Vauthier is Director of Research at the CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique) at the Institut Galien Paris Sud, Université Paris-Sud, France. Dr. Vauthier also serves as an editor for the journal Pharmaceutical Research. She received her Ph. D. in polymer chemistry from the University Louis Pasteur at Strasbourg, France. She then joined the University of Paris South, Faculty of Pharmacy as a research assistant. The focus of her research is about understanding the influence of the physicochemical characteristics of nanomedicines and their interactions with biological systems when the nanomedicines are intended to improve drug delivery after mucosal or intravenous administration. She is author and co-author of more than 120 research papers as well as over 20 review papers and book chapters on nanoparticle preparation, characterization methods, and on the application of nanoparticles as drug delivery systems. Dr. Vauthier has spoken at numerous conferences and has presented over 100 communications. Prof. Gilles Ponchel is full professor at the University of Paris-South where he teaches Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy. He leads a multidisciplinary research team that belongs to the Institut Galien Université Paris-Sud and specializes in the field of drug delivery. The aim of the team is to conceive and to develop innovative drug delivery systems that can improve the crossing of active drugs through physico-chemical and biological barriers. His main research interests are: (i) the development and the evaluation of bioadhesive delivery systems and (ii) the conception of pharmaceutically acceptable nanomedecines, mainly multifunctionalized nanoparticles prepared from tailored polymers, polypeptides, cyclodextrins, etc. for optimizing their biodistribution in the context of drug targeting applications. Prof. Ponchel is the author of over 130 research papers, more than 170 communications, more than 50 invited lectures. He has been co-author and contributor to books and many book chapters.

Preface.- Introduction Part I: Polymer nanoparticles for in vivo applications: Progress on preparation methods and future challenges.- Nanoprecipitation process: From particlepreparation to in vivo applications.- Targeted Theragnostic Nanoparticles via Flash Nanoprecipitation: Principles of Materials Selection.- Preparation of polymer nanoparticles by the emulsification-solvent evaporation method: from Vanderhoff´s pioneer approach to recent adaptations.- Methods for the preparation of nanoparticles by polymerization.- Shape-controlled nanoparticles for drug delivery and targeting applications.- Physicochemical characterization of polymer nanoparticles: Challenges and present limitations.- Imaging polymer nanoparticles by means of transmission and scanning electron microscopy techniques.- Evaluating the interactions between proteins and components of the immune system with polymer nanoparticles.- Investigating interactions between nanoparticles and cells: internalization and intracellular trafficking.- Characterization of mucoadhesive interactions between nanoparticles and epithelial membranes.- Designing polymer nanoparticle nanomedicines: potential applications and challenges.- Selecting and designing polymers suitable for nanoparticles manufacturing.- Associating Drugs with Polymer Nanoparticles: A Challenge.- Drug delivery by nanoparticles: The Challenge of Controlled Release and Evaluation.- Interaction between nanoparticles and plasma proteins: effects on nanoparticle biodistribution and toxicity.- Toxicological aspects of polymer nanoparticles.- Theranostics: In Vivo.- Nanomedicines  -A scientific toy or an emerging market?.- Regulatory perspective on the development of polymeric nanomaterials.