[Semisynthetic cellulose derivatives as the base of hydrophilic gel systems]. / Polosyntetické deriváty celulosy jako základ hydrofilních gelových systému.

The field of drug technology widely ulilizes gel systems of high-molecular substances, which have a number of advantages, such as low toxicity, availability, unique physical properties, biocompatibility, mucoadhesivity, and others. Gel systems are used in the field of local as well as general therapy, in both shape-specific and shape-non-specific dosage forms, in medicaments of the first, second, and third generations. An important group of gels employed in pharmacy are hydrophilic gels or hydrogels, most frequently composed of hydrophilic polymers of natural, semisynthetic and synthetic origin. Though cellulose derivatives as the representatives of polymers of semisynthetic origin are used in pharmaceutical technology for a long time, their research continues and their other possible uses are being searched for. Their advantages include especially safety, easy availability, and a relatively low price. The review paper describes selected cellulose derivatives, their properties and uses in pharmaceutical technology with regard to their use in the field of production of gel systems.

[A cellulose derivative with a potential to become an active pharmaceutical substance as well as an auxiliary substance]. / Oxycelulosa--celulosový derivát s potenciálem ucinné i pomocné látky.

The review article is focused on one of the wide range of pharmaceutically and medicinally employed cellulose derivates--oxycellulose. This substance, prepared by oxidation of cellulose, in contrast to cellulose esters and ethers, has not been not employed in practice in a wide extent yet. However, recent studies reveal its potential use in modern therapeutical systems, whether as a release-modifying excipient, a drug carrier, or also an active substance with ability of hemostasis, prevention of tissue adhesion after surgical operations, and a substance with antimicrobial and immunomodulating activity, whose unique property of biodegradability, promoted by hypoallergenicity and non-irritability, has not been observed in any of the hitherto used cellulose derivates. The article presents a comprehensive overview about the history of this derivate, from its physico-chemical properties through the description of the ability of biodegradability to its already realized and planned utilization.