Ebook: Controlled Release: A Quantitative Treatment

The concept of controlled release has attracted increasing attention over the last two decades, with the applications of this technology proliferating in diverse fields in­ cluding medicine, agriculture and biotechnology. Research and developmental efforts related to controlled release are multiplying in both industry and academia. The reason for this phenomenal growth is obvious. The use of a variety of biologically active agents, such as drugs, fertilizers and pesticides, has become an integral part of modern society. Along with the use of these reagents has evolved an awareness that their uncontrolled application almost inevitably induces harmful effects on the health of humans and their surrounding environments. To eliminate or minimize these harmful effects necessitates the controlled release of these chemicals. Moreover, the controlled release of substances, not usually considered toxic or hazardous, e.g., some catalysts and nutrients, can enhance their effectiveness. The number and variety of controlled release systems, differing in their physical and chemical makeup, are increasing rapidly. Proliferation almost always demands correlation, generalization and unification; it requires both the development of underlying theories of their behavior and the mechanistic interpretation of their performance. This, in turn, requires a statistical and mathematical (quantitative) treatment of the scientific information and technical data pertaining to them. A quantitative treatment can also facilitate the formulation of procedures for computer-aided design of these systems through a priori prediction of their per­ formance for a variety of design parameters.

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The book presents the quantitative aspects of controlled release systems. The factors or parameters governing the performance of these systems are reviewed and discussed, along with the principles for their design. The major mathematical models applicable to the systems are classified and analyzed. A stochastic approach to modelling the diffusion process pertinent to some of the systems is also introduced. The book provides an introduction to students and scientists in this area with a comprehensive coverage of the principles (both qualitative and quantitative) behind the major classes of controlled release systems. The book can be a ready reference for researchers and practitioners in analyzing and interpreting their experimental results.

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The book presents the quantitative aspects of controlled release systems. The factors or parameters governing the performance of these systems are reviewed and discussed, along with the principles for their design. The major mathematical models applicable to the systems are classified and analyzed. A stochastic approach to modelling the diffusion process pertinent to some of the systems is also introduced. The book provides an introduction to students and scientists in this area with a comprehensive coverage of the principles (both qualitative and quantitative) behind the major classes of controlled release systems. The book can be a ready reference for researchers and practitioners in analyzing and interpreting their experimental results.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages I-X
Introduction....Pages 1-8
Diffusion-Controlled Release....Pages 9-88
Chemical Reaction Controlled Release....Pages 89-109
Swelling-Controlled Release....Pages 110-156
Special Controlled-Release Systems....Pages 157-166
Stochastic Model for Diffusion in Porous or Heterogeneous Polymer Matrix....Pages 167-224
Epilogue....Pages 225-226
Back Matter....Pages 227-233

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The book presents the quantitative aspects of controlled release systems. The factors or parameters governing the performance of these systems are reviewed and discussed, along with the principles for their design. The major mathematical models applicable to the systems are classified and analyzed. A stochastic approach to modelling the diffusion process pertinent to some of the systems is also introduced. The book provides an introduction to students and scientists in this area with a comprehensive coverage of the principles (both qualitative and quantitative) behind the major classes of controlled release systems. The book can be a ready reference for researchers and practitioners in analyzing and interpreting their experimental results.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages I-X
Introduction....Pages 1-8
Diffusion-Controlled Release....Pages 9-88
Chemical Reaction Controlled Release....Pages 89-109
Swelling-Controlled Release....Pages 110-156
Special Controlled-Release Systems....Pages 157-166
Stochastic Model for Diffusion in Porous or Heterogeneous Polymer Matrix....Pages 167-224
Epilogue....Pages 225-226
Back Matter....Pages 227-233
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