Polymers in Medicine

Section I Polymeric Drugs and Drug Delivery Systems.- Characteristic Bilolgical Effects of Anionic Polymers.- Polymeric Antitumour Agents on a Molecular and on a Cellular Level?.- Utilization of Stabilized Forms of Polynucleotides.- Application of the Congener Approach to the Design and Synthesis of Peptide-Catecholamine Conjugates.- New Polymeric and Oligomeric Matrices as Drug Carriers.- Development of N-(2-Hydroxypropyl)Methacrylamide Copolymers as Carriers of Therapeutic Agents.- Biologically Active Compounds Immobilized on Cellulose Derivatives.- Preparation of Enzyme Polymers for Therapeutical Use! Preliminary "In Vivo" Study.- Synthesis and Characterization of Covalently Bound Polymer-Hormone Conjugates for the Controlled Release of Hormones.- Improved Drug Delivery to Target Specific Organs Using Liposomes as Coated with Polysaccharides.- Synthesis and Release of Contraceptive Steroids from Bioerodible Poly(Ortho Ester)s.- Press-Coated Systems for Drug Release Control.- Polymeric Ophthalmic Drug Delivery Systems! Preparation and Evaluation of Pilocarpine-Containing Inserts.- Basic Physical Parameters of Polymeric Matrices Influencing Drug Release.- Section II Polymers as Biomaterials.- Polymers in Medicine-An Overview.- Functional Polyesters and Polyamides for Medical Applications of Biodegradable Polymers.- Polyurethanes as Biomaterials - Assessment of Blood Compatibility.- Synthesis, Structural Study and Preliminary Hemocompatibility Tests of AB and ABA Block Copolymers with Polyvinyl and Polypeptide Blocks.- Interactions of Some Plasmatic Proteins with Anticoagulant Polystyrene Resins! Mechanism of Catalytic Activity towards the Thrombin-Antithrombin Reaction.- Characterization and Albumin Adsorption on Surface Oxidized Polyethylene Films.- Radiation Induced Modification of Polyetherurethane Tubes with HEMA and Acrylamide.- Improvement of the Biocompatibility of Polymers through Surface Modification.- Physical Characterization of Poly(2-Hydroxyethylmethacrylate) Gels: Effect of the Diluent Content on the Mechanical and Transport Properties.- Section III Medical and Surgical Applications of Polymers.- The Design of a Small Diameter Arterial Replacement.- The Development of Small Diameter Vascular Prostheses.- Testing Devices for the Evaluation of Prosthetic Heart Valves.- Development and Testing of a New Prosthetic Heart Valve.- Heparin-like Substances and Blood-Compatible Polymers Obtained from Chitin and Chitosan.- Advances in the Development of Extraction Resistant Flexible PVC Compounds.- Immobilization of Enzymes on Hollow Fibers Assembled after Chemical Modification.- Polymer Composite Materials in Orthopaedic Surgery.