The use of biodegradable polymetric materials as drug carriers is a relatively new dimension in polymeric drug delivery systems. A number of biodegradable or bioerodible polymers, such as poly(lactic/glycolic acid) copolymer, poly($\alpha$-amino acid), polyanhydride, and poly (ortho ester) are currently being investigated for this purpose. These polymers are useful for matrix and reservoir-type delivery devices. In addition, when chemical functional groups are introduced to the biodegradable polymer backdone, such as poly (N-(2-hydroxypropyl) methacrylamide), the therapeutic agent can be covalently bound directly or via spacer to the backbone polymer. These polymer/drug conjugates represent another new dimension in biodegradable polymeric drug delivery systems. In addition, examples of biodegradable polymeric durg delivery systems currently being investigated will be discussed for the purpose of demonstrarting the potential importance of this new field.

The effect of phenothiazine derivatives on the thermotropic transition of liposomal lipid bilayer made of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylchline and dipalmitoyl phosphatidic acid was investigated with differential scanning calorimetry. The thermograms of the liposomal bilayer incorporated with levomepromazine, chlopromazine, prochloperazine, perphenazine and fluphenazine were obtained and the size of cooperative unit of the transition were calculated from the ratio of the van't Hoff enthalpy change to the calculated enthalpy change of the transition. The results showed that incorporation of phenothiazine derivatives into the liposomal bilayer reduced the transition temperature at which the transition from solid state to liquid-crystalline state occurs, and broadened the thermogram peaks. Phenothiazine derivatives also significantly reduced the size of cooperative unit of the transition. The effect of the drugs was proportional to the concentration of the drug in the bilayer. This means that phenothiazine derivatives might have significant fluidizing effects on the biomembrane. The sizes of cooperative unit were successfully corrlated with phar-macological activities of the drugs and the surface pressure increases of lipid monolayer by these drugs. These correlations might be ascribed to a possible hydrophobic nature of interaction between the biomembrane and the drugs involved in their pharmacology.

The effect of imperatorin on hepatic microsomal mixed function oxidases (MF0) was investigated. On acute treatment, imperatorin (30 mg/kg, i.p) caused a significant reduction in activities of hepatic aminopyrine N-demethylase, hexobarbital hydroxylase and aniline hydroxylase as well as cytochrome p0450 content in rats and mice. Kinetic studies on rat liver enzymes revealed that imperatorin appeared to be a competitive inhibitor of aminopyrine N-demethylase (Ki,0.007 mM), whereas a non-competitive inhibitor of hexobarbital hydroxylase (Ki, 0.0148 mM). Imperatorin also inhibited non-competitively aniline metabolism (Ki 0.2 mM). Imperatorin binds to phenobarbital-induced cytochrome p-450 to give a typical type 1 binding sepctrum (max. 388nm, min 422 nm). Multiple administrations of imperatorin (30 mg/kg. i. p. daily for 7 days) to mice shortended markedly the duration of hexobarbital narcosis and increased activities of hepatic aminopyrine N-demethylase and hexobarbital hydroxylase and the level of cytochrome p-450 where as aniline hydroxylase activity was unaffected.

In attempt to develop a drug delivery system using serum albumin microspheres, bovine serum albumin microspheres containing antitumar agent. Cytarabine, were prepared. The shape, surface characteristics, size distribution, behavior of in vivo distribution, drug release behavior, and degradation of albumin microsphers in animal liver issue homogenate and proteolytic enzyme were investigated. The shape of albumin microspheres was spherical and the surface was smooth and compact. The size distribution of the albumin microspheres was effected by dispertion forces during emulsification and albumin concentration. Distribution of albumin microspheres after imtravenous administration in rabbit was achieved immediately. In vitro, albumin microsphere matrix was so hard that it retained most of cytarabine except initial burst during the first 10 minutes, and the level of drug release during the initial burst was affected by heating temperature, drug/albumin microsphere matrix was so hard that it retained most of cytarabine except initial burst during the first 10 minutes, and the level of drug release during the initial burst was affected by heating temperature, drug/albumin concentration ratio and size distribution. After drug release test, the morphology of albumin microspheres was not changed. Albumin microsphere matrix was degraded by the animal liver issue homogenate and proteolytic enzyme. The degree of degradation was affected by heating temperature.

Fourteen volatile components including eight allypyrocatechol analogs were isolated and identified from the essential oil and ether soluble fraction of Philippine Piper bettle leaves (Piperaceae). The major constituents of Philippine Piper betle oil were chavibetol and chavibetol acetate. Capilary GC analysis of the oil showed chavibetol (53.1%), chavibetol acetate (15.5%), caryophyllene (3.79%), allypyrocatechol diacetate (0.71%), campene (0.48), chavibetol methylether (=methyl eugenol, 0.48%), eugenol (0/32%), $\alpha$-pinene(0.21%), $\beta$-pinene(0.21%), $\alpha$-limonene(0.14%), safrole (0.11%), 1.8-cineol(0.04%), and allylpyrocatechol monoacetate. The major component of the ether soluble fraction was allylpyrocatechol (2.38% of the leaves).

In order to use for metabolic studies of tranylcypromine (TCP), TCP-phenyl-$d_{5}$ was synthesized via the intermediates, 3-benzoylpropionic acid-$d_{5}$ and trans-2-phenylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid-$d_{5}$ -TCP(0.22 mmole/kg) and its deuterated analog were administered s. c. to the rats and GC/MS analyses of the urines led to the detection of N-acetyltranylcypromine (ATCP) and glucuronide conjugate of phenyl-hydroxylated ATCP. MAO activities in rat brain were measured using serotonin as the substrate. In vitro $IC_{50}$ of ATCP was determined to be $10^{-3}M$. The inhibitions by ATCP were not dependent on the preincubation time and were reversed by washing sedimented mitochondrial pellets after the preincubation. In vivo MAO inhibitions at various times of 0.5, 1.5, 3, 6, 12, and 23 hr after the administration of 0.4 mmole/kg (i. p. ) of ATCP were found to be 0.13, 73, 90, 89, and 74 %, respectively. Similarly, the inhibition percents by 0.015 mmole/kg (i. p. ) of TCP were 94, 99, 95, 91, 71 and 49%. The results strongly suggest that deacetylated product of ATCP may account for its in vivo MAO inhibition. The relationship between the metabolism via phenyl-hydroxylation and the in vivo potency of TCP was examined by QSAR study and it was found that groupings discriminating between the compounds with p-substituents and those without them only ensure high correlations, suggesting that ring-hydroxylation which occurs at the para position in most of the compounds is a determining factor to the potency of TCP.

Bretylium tosylate is a quaternary ammonium compound used for the treatment of ventricular fibrilation in humans. It is advantageous to other cationic compound in the study of biliary excretion in that negligible amount is bound to plasma protein and metabolite is not likely is to be formed. Some researchers reported that the formation of ion-pair complex caused to increase the lipothilicity of cationic compound. The partition of bretylium between water and organic phase was increased with the addition of sodium taurodeoxycholate. Also sensitive gas chromatographical assay procedure using flame ionization detector was studied. This procedure can detect as low as 0.1 mg/ml using 0.1 ml biological sample, but contamination by previous injection is the major problem of this method.

Some coumarins were sythesized for the screening of their cytotoxic activities against L1210 cell. Of the conmarins sythesized, 6, 7-dihydroxycoumarin (esculetin) and 7, 8-dihydroxycoumain (dephnetin) as coumarins with dioxygenated A-ring, and 6-acetoxy-5, 7-dimethoxycoumarin and5, 7-dimethoxy-6-hydroxycoumarin as trioxygenated ones, show considerable cytotoxic activities, ED 50 being 4. 3, 8. 8, 17.2 and 5.5 $\mu$g/ml in the same other as the substances. THe extent oxygenation of the A-ring and the positions of the oxygen functions eventually play an important role for the cytotoxic activity.