Introduction

Natural Polymers for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Therapy analyses the evolving role of biopolymer-based systems in the treatment and management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

The book offers a bridge between disease mechanisms and advanced drug delivery approaches. It highlights how biocompatible, biodegradable polymer systems can be engineered to improve drug targeting, reduce systemic side effects, and enhance therapeutic outcomes in chronic intestinal inflammation.

With in-depth discussions of the variants, biological mechanisms, and contributing factors of inflammatory bowel disease. The book furthers discussions of the limitations of current treatment approaches, including biologics, JAK inhibitors, anti-TNF and anti-IL therapies, antibiotics, probiotics, and emerging cell-based interventions, underscoring the need for more targeted and safer delivery systems.

A major focus of the book is the intestinal microenvironment in IBD and its implications for drug delivery. It examines key pathological features such as altered gut microbiota, epithelial barrier dysfunction, inflammation-driven tissue remodelling, fibrosis, and changes in pH, enzymatic activity, and vascular dynamics. These factors are critically analysed in the context of designing smart, responsive, and site-specific drug delivery systems using natural polymers.

By integrating biomedical science with pharmaceutical technology, the book explores how natural polymers can be utilised to develop novel therapeutic platforms for targeted intestinal delivery. It emphasises the potential of these systems to overcome biological barriers and improve drug stability and efficacy in inflamed tissues.

Key Features

• - Detailed analysis of IBD and its microenvironment, including mechanisms, variants, and its role in drug delivery challenges.
• - Exploration of current therapeutic approaches to IBD and their limitations.
• - Focuses on natural polymer-based drug delivery systems for targeted IBD therapy.
• - Discusses microenvironment-responsive and site-specific delivery strategies.
• - Integrates disease pathology with advanced pharmaceutical and biomaterial science.

Target Readership :

For researchers, pharmaceutical scientists, postgraduate students and other professionals working in drug delivery, biomaterials, and inflammatory disease therapeutics.