Cell Culture Models of Biological Barriers : In Vitro Test Systems for Drug Absorption and Delivery

Providing a practical approach to cell culture-based techniques for drug therapy, this book will be an invaluable source of information for both students and pharmaceutical scientists alike. Content: Preliminaries; Contents; List of color plates; List of figures; List of tables; List of contributors; Preface; 1 Basic aspects of cell growth and cell cycle in culture; 2 Cell culture media: selection and standardization; 3 Bioelectrical characterization of epithelial cell (mono)layers and excised tissues; 4 Characterization of transport over epithelial barriers; 5 Studying cellular binding and uptake of bioadhesive lectins; 6 High-throughput epithelial cell culture systems for drug intestinal permeability; 7 Good cell culture practice. Abstract: Providing a practical approach to cell culture-based techniques for drug therapy, this book will be an invaluable source of information for both students and pharmaceutical scientists alike Over the past ten years several sophisticated in vitro test systems based on epithelial cell cultures have been introduced in the field of drug delivery. These models have been found to be very useful in characterizing the permeability of drugs across epithelial tissues, and in studying formulations or carrier systems for improved drug delivery and enhanced absorption. Compared to in vivo trials on animals or humans, cell culture models are faster, more convenient and cost effective, ethically advantageous and, most importantly, they can be more easily standardized and validated.This book