Implantable Depot with Control Regions for Sustained Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Implantable systems for controlled release of therapeutic agents often experience a burst release of therapeutic agents upon contact with physiologic fluids, followed by residual release, lacking a true controlled and sustained delivery mechanism.
Innovation Solution
The development of implantable depots with a therapeutic region surrounded by control regions, which modulate the release of therapeutic agents through bioresorbable polymers and releasing agents, allowing for a controlled, sustained release by altering parameters such as composition and geometry to optimize release profiles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If implantable systems use biodegradable polymers and therapeutic agents for localized delivery, then systemic side effects are avoided and localized delivery is achieved, but burst release occurs upon contact with physiologic fluids followed by residual release instead of true controlled release
Solution Approach 1:
The implantable depot is divided into multiple functional layers: a therapeutic agent-containing core region and one or more control regions surrounding it. This segmentation allows the control regions to regulate the release of therapeutic agents from the core region, preventing burst release while maintaining controlled, sustained delivery over time.
Solution Approach 2:
Control regions act as intermediary structures between the therapeutic agent core and the surrounding physiologic environment. These control regions modulate the interaction between physiologic fluids and the therapeutic agents, regulating diffusion and release rates to achieve true controlled release rather than uncontrolled burst release.
2Quantity of substance
If a large dose of therapeutic agent is implanted for sustained release, then treatment efficacy is improved, but burst release and residual release patterns reduce control precision
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the implantable depot are designed with different properties: the core region contains high concentrations of therapeutic agent for sustained release, while the control regions have specific polymer compositions and structures that locally regulate release. This local quality differentiation allows precise control of release profiles even when large doses are implanted.
Solution Approach 2:
The release profile is controlled by varying parameters such as polymer composition, control region thickness, pore size, and hydrophilicity. These parameter changes in the control regions allow precise modulation of release rates, enabling sustained release of large therapeutic doses with high control precision.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The implantable depots provide a highly controlled and sustained release of therapeutic agents, reducing systemic side effects and enhancing the efficacy of treatments by maintaining a consistent release profile over time.
Implementation Method 1
control regions... modulate the release of therapeutic agents through bioresorbable polymers
Implementation Method 2
biodegradable carrier holding a large dose of a therapeutic agent for a controlled, sustained release over time
Data Source
AI summary
Implantable depots for delivering therapeutic agents and associated systems and methods are provided. In some embodiments, an implantable depot for treating pain in a subject after a surgical procedure includes a therapeutic region having a first polymer and an analgesic agent, a first control region including a second polymer, and a second control region including a third polymer. The first and second control regions can cover first and second surfaces of the therapeutic region to inhibit release of the analgesic agent therefrom. The depot can include one or more holes extending through the first and second control regions and the therapeutic region to form one or more exposed portions. When implanted in the subject, the implantable depot can release the analgesic agent from a lateral surface of the therapeutic region between the first and second surfaces, and from the exposed portions of the therapeutic region.