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This book presents a comprehensive overview of medical and pharmaceutical applications of human serum albumin (HSA), with updates on structural aspects of albumin from the perspectives of X-ray crystallography and NMR, endogenous and exogenous ligand binding of albumin in various pathological conditions, and genetic variants and their phenotypes. Rapid progress and development of its applications have resulted in outstanding results for which albumin has clearly been proven to be a robust biomaterial. Contributions from leading international experts in this field show how HSA is applied to diagnosis, therapy, drugs, and treatment, with a comprehensive introduction of HSA. This volume will appeal to scientists in pharmaceutical and medical research including pharmaceutical chemists, pharmacokineticists, toxicologists, and biochemists not only in academia but also in industry. Readers can effectively acquire the most recent knowledge of applications of HSA and its impact on human health in a single volume.

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PREFACE.-CONTRIBUTORS.-Chapter 1 Human Serum Albumin: A Multifunctional Protein.-Chapter 2 Stability of Albumin and Stabilization of Albumin Preparations.-Chapter 3 Albumin as a Biomarker.-Chapter 4 Albumin Fusion Protein.-Chapter 5 Albumin Nanoparticles.-Chapter 6 Nanoparticle Albumin Bound Paclitaxel (Abraxane©).-Chapter 7 OptisonTM Albumin Microspheres in Ultrasound Assisted Gene Therapy and Drug Delivery.-Chapter 8 S-Nitroso Adducts of Albumin Analogs: Characterization, Categorization, and Possible Future Therapeutic Applications.-Chapter 9 Hemoglobin-Albumin Clusters as a Red Blood Cell Substitute.-Chapter 10 The Influence of FcRn on Albumin-fused and Targeted Drugs.-Chapter 11 Human Serum Albumin in Blood Detoxification Treatment.-BIBLIOGRAPHY.-INDEX.

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Masaki Otagiri, Ph.D.Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sojo University, Japan
Victor Tuan Giam ChuangSchool of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Australia

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