17672results about "Microcapsules" patented technology

This invention discloses methods for preparing compositions of cyclodextrin polymers for carrying drugs and other active agents. Methods are also disclosed for preparing cyclodextrin polymer carriers that release drugs under controlled conditions. The invention also discloses methods for preparing compositions of cyclodextrin polymer carriers that are coupled to biorecognition molecules for targeting the delivery of drugs to their site of action. The advantages of the water soluble (or colloidal) cyclodextrin polymer carrier are: (1) Drugs can be used that are designed for efficacy without conjugation requirements. (2) It will allow the use of drugs designed solely for efficacy without regard for solubility. (3) Unmodified drugs can be delivered as macromolecules and released within the cell. (4) Drugs can be targeted by coupling the carrier to biorecognition molecules. (5) Synthesis methods are independent of the drug to facilitate multiple drug therapies.

This invention provides a sustained-release preparation comprising a biodegradable polymer metal salt and broactive polypeptide, with enhanced entrapment of the bioactive polypeptides, a suppression of initial burst, and a constant long-term release of the bioactive polypeptides.

The present invention relates to a molecular sustained controlled release system constructed by the conjugation of molecules to be released with biodegradable polyester polymer via covalent bond and method for preparation thereof. In accordance with the present invention, the system may be formulated into microspheres, nanoparticles, or films. The molecular release rate from the above system can be regulated to be proportional to the chemical degradation rate of the biodegradable polyester polymers, resulting in near zero order kinetics profile of release without showing a burst effect, Moreover, a high loading efficiency of hydrophilic drugs can be achieved.

The invention relates to a multiparticulate modified release composition that in operation delivers an active ingredient in a pulsed or bimodal manner. The multiparticulate modified release composition comprises an immediate release component and a modified release component; the immediate release component comprising a first population of active ingredient containing particles and the modified release component compnsimg a second population of active ingredient containing particles coated with a controlled release coating; wherein the combination of the immediate release and modified release components in operation deliver the active ingredient in a pulsed or a bimodal manner. The invention also relates to a solid oral dosage form containing such a multiparticulate modified release composition. The plasma profile achieved by the multiparticulate modified release composition is advantageous in reducing patient tolerance to the active ingredient and in increasing patient compliance by reducing dosage frequency.

A method and device for treating a mammalian organism to obtain a desired local or systemic physiological or pharmacological effect is provided. The method includes administering a sustained release drug delivery system to a mammalian organism in need of such treatment at an area wherein release of an effective agent is desired and allowing the effective agent to pass through the device in a controlled manner. The device includes an inner core or reservoir including the effective agent, an impermeable tube which encloses portions of the reservoir, and a permeable member at an end of the tube.

In accordance with the present invention, there are provided compositions and methods useful for the in vivo delivery of a pharmaceutically active agent, wherein the agent is associated with a polymeric biocompatible material.

Compositions and methods for coating medical devices with pharmaceutical agents and devices coated with the compositions. The coated devices provide controlled or sustained release of pharmaceutical agents for the treatment of wounds or disease.

In accordance with the present invention, there are provided compositions and methods useful for the in vivo delivery of substantially water insoluble pharmacologically active agents (such as the anticancer drug paclitaxel) in which the pharmacologically active agent is delivered in the form of suspended particles coated with protein (which acts as a stabilizing agent). In particular, protein and pharmacologically active agent in a biocompatible dispersing medium are subjected to high shear, in the absence of any conventional surfactants, and also in the absence of any polymeric core material for the particles. The procedure yields particles with a diameter of less than about 1 micron. The use of specific composition and preparation conditions (e.g., addition of a polar solvent to the organic phase), and careful election of the proper organic phase and phase fraction, enables the reproducible production of unusually small nanoparticles of less than 200 nm diameter, which can be sterile-filtered. The particulate system produced according to the invention can be converted into a redispersible dry powder comprising nanoparticles of water-insoluble drug coated with a protein, and free protein to which molecules of the pharmacological agent are bound. This results in a unique delivery system, in which part of the pharmacologically active agent is readily bioavailable (in the form of molecules bound to the protein), and part of the agent is present within particles without any polymeric matrix therein.

Polymeric delivery devices have been developed which combine high loading/high density of molecules to be delivered with the option of targeting. As used herein, “high density” refers to microparticles having a high density of ligands or coupling agents, which is in the range of 1000-10,000,000, more preferably between 10,000 and 1,000,000 ligands per square micron of microparticle surface area. A general method for incorporating molecules into the surface of biocompatible polymers using materials with an HLB of less than 10, more preferably less than 5, such as fatty acids, has been developed. Because of its ease, generality and flexibility, this method has widespread utility in modifying the surface of polymeric materials for applications in drug delivery and tissue engineering, as well other other fields. Targeted polymeric microparticles have also been developed which encapsulate therapeutic compounds such as drugs, cellular materials or components, and antigens, and have targeting ligands directly bound to the microparticle surface. Preferred applications include use in tissue engineering matrices, wound dressings, bone repair or regeneration materials, and other applications where the microparticles are retained at the site of application or implantation. Another preferred application is in the use of microparticles to deliver anti-proliferative agents to the lining of blood vessels following angioplasty, transplantation or bypass surgery to prevent or decrease restenosis, and in cancer therapy. In still another application, the microparticles are used to treat or prevent macular degeneration when administered to the eye, where agents such as complement inhibitors are administered.

Multi-component particles comprising inorganic nanoparticles distributed in an organic matrix and processes for making and using same. A flowing aerosol is generated that includes droplets of a precursor medium dispersed in a gas phase. The precursor medium contains a liquid vehicle and at least one precursor. At least a portion of the liquid vehicle is removed from the droplets of precursor medium under conditions effective to convert the precursor to the nanoparticles or the matrix and form the multi-component particles.

Disclosed in certain embodiments is an oral dosage form comprising: a therapeutically effective amount of an opioid analgesic; an opioid antagonist; and an irritant in an effective amount to impart an irritating sensation to an abuser upon administration of the dosage form after tampering.

A water soluble biodegradable ABA- or BAB-type triblock polymer is disclosed that is made up of a major amount of a hydrophobic polymer made of a poly(lactide-co-glycolide) copolymer or poly(lactide) polymer as the A-blocks and a minor amount of a hydrophilic polyethylene glycol polymer B-block, having an overall weight average molecular weight of between about 2000 and 4990, and that possesses reverse thermal gelation properties. Effective concentrations of the triblock polymer and a drug may be uniformly contained in an aqueous phase to form a drug delivery composition. At temperatures below the gelation temperature of the triblock polymer the composition is a liquid and at temperatures at or above the gelation temperature the composition is a gel or semi-solid. The composition may be administered to a warm-blooded animal as a liquid by parenteral, ocular, topical, inhalation, transdermal, vaginal, transurethral, rectal, nasal, oral, pulmonary or aural delivery means and is a gel at body temperature. The composition may also be administered as a gel. The drug is released at a controlled rate from the gel which biodegrades into non-toxic products. The release rate of the drug may be adjusted by changing various parameters such as hydrophobic/hydrophilic componenet content, polymer concentration, molecular weight and polydispersity of the triblock polymer. Because the triblock polymer is amphiphilic, it functions to increase the solubility and/or stability of drugs in the composition.

Disclosed in certain embodiments is an oral dosage form comprising a therapeutically effective amount of an opioid analgesic, an opioid antagonist and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients; the dosage form further including a gelling agent in an effective amount to impart a viscosity unsuitable for administration selected from the group consisting of parenteral and nasal administration to a solubilized mixture formed when the dosage form is crushed and mixed with from about 0.5 to about 10 ml of an aqueous liquid.

An ink for forming CIGS photovoltaic cell active layers is disclosed along with methods for making the ink, methods for making the active layers and a solar cell made with the active layer. The ink contains a mixture of nanoparticles of elements of groups IB, IIIA and (optionally) VIA. The particles are in a desired particle size range of between about 1 nm and about 500 nm in diameter, where a majority of the mass of the particles comprises particles ranging in size from no more than about 40% above or below an average particle size or, if the average particle size is less than about 5 nanometers, from no more than about 2 nanometers above or below the average particle size. The use of such ink avoids the need to expose the material to an H₂Se gas during the construction of a photovoltaic cell and allows more uniform melting during film annealing, more uniform intermixing of nanoparticles, and allows higher quality absorber films to be formed.

The present invention relates to a method for reducing adhesions associated with post-operative surgery. The present method comprises administering or affixing a polymeric composition preferably comprising chain extended, coupled or crosslinked polyester/poly(oxyalkylene) ABA triblocks or AB diblocks having favorable EO/LA ratios to a site in the body which has been subjected to trauma, e.g. by surgery, excision or inflammatory disease. In the present invention, the polymeric material provides a barrier to prevent or reduce the extent of adhesions forming.

The present invention pertains to pharmaceutical formulations and systems for delivery of active agents, wherein a first fraction of an active agent is suspended in a vehicle and a second fraction of active agent is solubilized in the vehicle, with the suspended fraction representing about 5 wt. % to about 80 wt. % of the active agent and the second fraction representing about 20 wt. % to about 95 wt. % of the active agent. One or more additional active agents, which may be fully solubilized, partially solubilized, or suspended, may also be present. The first and second fractions of the active agent may or may not have different release profiles. Generally, a significant fraction of the solubilized drug will release rapidly, providing for rapid onset, while the suspended drug may be formulated for delayed and/or sustained release.

The present invention provides solid pharmaceutical compositions for improved delivery of a wide variety of pharmaceutical active ingredients contained therein or separately administered. In one embodiment, the solid pharmaceutical composition includes a solid carrier, the solid carrier including a substrate and an encapsulation coat on the substrate. The encapsulation coat can include different combinations of pharmaceutical active ingredients, hydrophilic surfactant, lipophilic surfactants and triglycerides. In another embodiment, the solid pharmaceutical composition includes a solid carrier, the solid carrier being formed of different combinations of pharmaceutical active ingredients, hydrophilic surfactants, lipophilic surfactants and triglycerides. The compositions of the present invention can be used for improved delivery of hydrophilic or hydrophobic pharmaceutical active ingredients, such as drugs, nutritional agents, cosmeceuticals and diagnostic agents.

The present invention relates to pharmaceutical dosage forms, for example to a tamper resistant dosage form including an opioid analgesic, and processes of manufacture, uses, and methods of treatment thereof.

The present invention is directed to drug dosage forms that release an agent that raises the pH of a patient's gastrointestinal tract, followed by a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. The dosage form is designed so that the NSAID is not released until the intragastric pH has been raised to a safe level. The invention also encompasses methods of treating patients by administering this coordinated release, gastroprotective, antiarthritic/analgesic combination unit dosage form to achieve pain and symptom relief with a reduced risk of developing gastrointestinal damage such as ulcers, erosions and hemorrhages.

The present invention relates to a conjugate that includes a nucleic acid ligand bound to a controlled release polymer system, a pharmaceutical composition that contains the conjugate, and methods of treatment using the conjugate. The controlled release polymer system includes an agent such as a therapeutic, diagnostic, prognostic, or prophylactic agent. The nucleic acid ligand that is bound to the controlled release polymer system, binds selectively to a target, such as a cell surface antigen, and thereby delivers the controlled release polymer system to the target.

A drug-loaded microparticle is applied to a medical device for subsequent application to biological tissues. A method of formulating a drug-loaded microparticle and applying it to the surface of a medical device, such as a stent, is disclosed. The drug-loaded microparticle is formulated by combining a drug with various chemical solutions. Specified sizes of the microparticles and amounts of drug(s) contained within the microparticles may be varied by altering the proportions of the chemicals/solutions. In addition to various drugs, therapeutic substances and radioactive isotopes may also be loaded into the microparticles. The drug-loaded microparticle are suspended in a polymer solution forming a polymer matrix. The polymer matrix may be applied to the entire surface or only selected portions of the medical device via dipping, spraying or combinations thereof.