Abstract
The design and development of drug-releasing textiles require a judicial selection of textile structure and materials and a thorough understanding of the drug-delivery mechanisms that are involved. This chapter focuses on the mechanisms and kinetics of controlled drug delivery. The chapter also highlights examples of the use of smart polymer-based carriers that are suitable for the development of smart textiles for controlled drug-release applications. Progress in fabrication, characterisation, and application of drug-releasing textiles is also discussed. In the first part of the chapter various drug-delivery mechanisms and kinetics are reviewed. This is followed by a discussion of the various types of drug carriers and coating techniques that are currently available for the preparation of drug-releasing textiles.