THIS ARTICLE PRESENTS ON: OVERVIEW OF VARIOUS POLYMERS UTILIZED IN PHARMACEUTICAL DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS

Rachana V. More*, Nida N. Mulla, Sanjay K. Bais

The present review highlights the significance of polymeric materials in the pharmaceutical delivery of therapeutic substances. Various dosage formats—such as tablets, transdermal patches, strips, films, semi-solid formulations, and powders — use polymers as essential components. These materials serve as the structural foundation of drug-delivery technologies because they regulate how the drug is released from the formulation. Biodegradable polymers have gained considerable interest since they break down into harmless units and, importantly, allow for a consistent and predictable release rate from controlled-release systems. Natural polymers provide additional benefits due to their availability, safety, and ability to offer defined release kinetics and desirable physicochemical traits, making them suitable candidates for drug-delivery platforms. Because of their inherent suitability bio-origin materials tissues, biodegradable macromolecule have become widely utilized in medical and pharmaceutical fields. In healthcare applications, macro molecule substances are often employed as implantable materials that must function reliably over extended periods. Such advancements help enhance therapeutic efficiency while reducing adverse effects and discomfort for patients. The primary function of a polymer in a release system shield medicine from the biological environment  extend its release duration, thereby improving the drug’s stability. Drug release from polymeric matrices occurs through mechanisms such as diffusion, polymer erosion, or swelling. This review also covers the features and performance of plant-based and mucoadhesive polymers commonly incorporated into modern drug-delivery technologies.