Development of a Biodegradable Subcutaneous Implant for Prolonged Drug Delivery Using 3D Printing.

Sarah A Stewart,Juan Domínguez-Robles,Eneko Larrañeta,Dimitrios A Lamprou,Ryan F Donnelly,Elena Mancuso,Victoria J Mcilorum

doi:10.3390/pharmaceutics12020105

Sarah A Stewart, Juan Domínguez-Robles + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics12020105

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Journal: Pharmaceutics	Publication Date: Jan 28, 2020
Citations: 118	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Queen's University Belfast, University of Ulster

Abstract

Implantable drug delivery devices offer many advantages over other routes of drug delivery. Most significantly, the delivery of lower doses of drug, thus, potentially reducing side-effects and improving patient compliance. Three dimensional (3D) printing is a flexible technique, which has been subject to increasing interest in the past few years, especially in the area of medical devices. The present work focussed on the use of 3D printing as a tool to manufacture implantable drug delivery devices to deliver a range of model compounds (methylene blue, ibuprofen sodium and ibuprofen acid) in two in vitro models. Five implant designs were produced, and the release rate varied, depending on the implant design and the drug properties. Additionally, a rate controlling membrane was produced, which further prolonged the release from the produced implants, signalling the potential use of these devices for chronic conditions.

Highlights

Implantable drug delivery devices are those that, when implanted into the body, release drugs at a defined rate and for a defined period
Ibuprofen sodium, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) (MW = 1000 Da), agarose powder and phosphate buffered saline (PBS) tablets pH 7.4 were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich (Dorset, UK)
Methylene blue (MB), ibuprofen sodium (IS) and ibuprofen acid (IA) were chosen as model compounds due to their different solubilities to assess any effect this may have on the release profiles

Summary

Introduction

Implantable drug delivery devices are those that, when implanted into the body, release drugs at a defined rate and for a defined period. They offer advantages over other routes of drug delivery They may achieve a therapeutic effect with lower drug concentrations [1,2,3] by potentially achieving higher drug concentrations at the site of interest, reducing systemic drug exposure and minimising the potential for unwanted side-effects [4,5]. These devices allow personalised medicine, increased patient compliance [6] and prolonged delivery of treatment over weeks, months or years [7] in a device which may be removed if adverse effects require early termination of treatment [8,9]. Implantable drug delivery devices have the potential to be used for other conditions such as the delivery of localised anaesthetics [14] or antibiotics [15]

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