A hydrogel based quasi-stationary test system for in vitro dexamethasone release studies for middle ear drug delivery systems

Abstract

Abstract For the investigation of in vitro drug release, methods have been used in which samples of drug delivery systems are immersed in release medium. The medium is used to measure drug concentration via chromatography or photometry. These systems are suitable to investigate the drug release of different systems or to simulate tissue environments. When considering predominantly humid regions, e.g. for drug release into the cochlea through the round window membrane by a drug delivery system placed at that membrane, reproducible in vitro determination of drug release becomes particularly challenging. In this study the development of a system is reported that allows the investigation of the in vitro drug release simulating such conditions. The presented test system consists of an alginate hydrogel in glass vials simulating the biological membrane, which separates the drug delivery system from the medium filled compartment. Saline is used as release medium and injected under the hydrogel. The samples are placed on top of the hydrogel, which slightly contacts the medium surface. The drug concentration in the release medium was determined by HPLC measurements. This system allows for testing the release of dexamethasone without the samples being completely surrounded by medium. The hydrogel mediates the diffusion of the drug by ensuring the contact with the medium. Release was monitored for more than 23 days. The presented concept was successfully designed and manufactured. The system is inexpensive and can be duplicated easily. In this study, it was used to monitor the drug release of dexamethasone from PEGDA700 derived polymer. One challenge that remains to be considered is the low mechanical stability of the hydrogel, which results in a need for repeated manufacturing during the handling of the system.