Biomaterials for Bone Regeneration

366 Biomaterials for Bone Regeneration

An interesting attempt to use nanoparticle applications as drug delivery

devices was recently made by Yu et al . (2009). They developed a simple

method to produce polysaccharide-based nanospheres by self-organization

of polymeric macromolecules in water. 5- uorouracil-loaded pectin nano-

particles were successfully fabricated in mild conditions in aqueous solution

in the presence of Ca

2+

and CO

3

−

ions. Interestingly, by adjusting the prepa-

ration conditions, vesicles could be obtained instead of nanoparticles. Both

formulations showed sustained, pH-controlled release of the drug.

As was mentioned ...