Microparticle drug delivery

Co-polymers used for drug delivery. Polymers that do not dissolve in acidic solutions can be used to coat a drug to prevent it being released in the stomach, alternatively, slowly dissolving polymers can be used to produce a slow release of drug, to reduce the number of times a day the patient has to take their medication. Polymers are also used to target the release of a drug to a specific part of the digestive tract for the treatment of a particular disease thus reducing side effects in other parts of the body. The large purple sphere is 100micrometres in diameter.