Controlled release systems are designed to provide delivery of an agent at a pre-determined rate for an extended period of time. Controlled release offers several advantages over traditional methods of formulation and administration: maintenance of effective concentrations for a sustained period, less total agent required, cost effectiveness, convenience and compliance. This course introduces students to chemical engineering fundamentals applied to controlled release systems. Basic principles of materials, mass transfer, heat transfer, fluid flow and chemical reactions are used to analyze and design controlled release systems. Applications to pharmaceutical, agricultural, and food industries will be explored. Laboratory experiments and demonstrations will be integrated throughout the course.
