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This book explores the use of various plant polysaccharides for pharmaceutical purposes, including drug delivery. It examines the exploitation of plant polysaccharides´ auxiliary functions to enhance drug release, stability, bioavailability and target specificity.

Plant-derived materials are at the center of drug-delivery research thanks to their non-toxicity, biodegradability, ready availability, eco-friendliness and low extraction costs. These materials include polysaccharides, a class of naturally occurring polymers consisting of glucose monomers, which serve as storage carbohydrates in cereals, root vegetables, rhizomes, seeds, fruits, etc.

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Introduction: multiple-unit systems for oral drug delivery.- Plant polysaccharides in drug delivery.- Locust bean gum-based multiple-unit systems for oral drug delivery.- Xanthan gum-based multiple-unit systems for oral drug delivery.- Sterculia gum-based multiple-unit systems for oral drug delivery.- Tamarind polysaccharide-based multiple-unit systems for oral drug delivery.- Guar gum-based multiple-unit systems for oral drug delivery.- Psyllum polysaccharide-based multiple-unit systems for oral drug delivery.- Cashew gum-based multiple-unit systems for oral drug delivery.- Fenugreek polysaccharide-based multiple-unit systems for oral drug delivery.- Okra gum-based multiple-unit systems for oral drug delivery.- Gum kondagogu-based multiple-unit systems for oral drug delivery.- Starch-based multiple-unit systems for oral drug delivery.- Conclusion.

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Amit Kumar Nayak, PhD Dr. Amit Kumar Nayak is currently working as Associate Professor at Seemanta Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Odisha, India. He has earned his PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences from IIFTM University, Moradabad, U.P, India. He has over 10 years of research experience in the field of pharmaceutics, especially in the development and characterization of polymeric composites, polymeric gels, hydrogels, novel and nanostructured drug delivery systems. Till date, he has authored over 120 publications in various high impact peer-reviewed journals and 34 book chapters to his credit. Overall, he has earned highly impressive publishing and cited record in Google Scholar (H-Index: 32, i10-Index: 75). He has been the permanent reviewer of many international journals of high repute. He also has participated and presented his research work at several conferences in India and is a life member of Association of Pharmaceutical Teachers of India (APTI). Md Saquib Hasnain, PhD Dr. Md Saquib Hasnain has over 6 years of research experience in the field of drug delivery and pharmaceutical formulation analyses, especially systematic development and characterization of diverse nanostructured drug delivery systems, controlled release drug delivery systems, bioenhanced drug delivery systems, nanomaterials and nanocomposites employing Quality by Design approaches as well as development and characterization of polymeric composites, formulation characterization and many more. Till date he has authored over 30 publications in various high impact peer-reviewed journals, 30 book chapters, and 1 Indian patent application to his credit. He is also serving as the reviewer of several prestigious journals. Overall, he has earned highly impressive publishing and cited record in Google Scholar (H-Index: 12). He has also participated and presented his research work at over ten conferences in India, and abroad. He is also the member of scientific societies i.e., Royal Society of Chemistry, Great Britain, International Association of Environmental and Analytical Chemistry, Switzerland and Swiss Chemical Society, Switzerland.

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