Polymeric Drug Release Regions via Non-Covalent Bonding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical devices for in vivo delivery of therapeutic agents face challenges in controlling the rate and dose of agent release, as the selection of polymeric layers is limited in terms of modulating the release profile.
Innovation Solution
The use of polymeric release regions with first and second bonding polymers, which can be the same or different, and bonding groups that interact via non-covalent bonding such as electrostatic, coordinative, or hydrogen bonding, allows for the modulation of therapeutic agent release rates and profiles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single polymeric layer is used for drug delivery, then the device structure is simple, but the ability to control and modulate therapeutic agent release rate is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The polymeric layer is divided into multiple distinct polymer blocks (first polymer block and second polymer block) with different properties. Each block can independently interact with the therapeutic agent, allowing separate control of release mechanisms. This segmentation enables complex release profiles to be achieved through combination of simpler polymer functions rather than requiring a single complex polymer structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite polymeric structures where multiple polymer blocks with different characteristics are combined within the same coating layer. These composite polymer regions provide both structural integrity and controlled release functionality, allowing the system to achieve versatility in release modulation while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure.
2Strength
If covalent bonding is used between polymers, then the bonding strength is high, but the ability to modulate release through bonding adjustment is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs dynamic non-covalent bonding mechanisms between polymer blocks that can reversibly form and break under physiological conditions. These bonds provide sufficient strength for structural stability while allowing controlled dissociation to modulate drug release. The bonding strength can be tuned by selecting different non-covalent interaction types (hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interaction, pi-pi stacking, metal coordination) enabling adjustment of release rates without sacrificing too much structural integrity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If non-covalent bonding is used between polymers, then the bonding can be readily modulated, but the bonding strength is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines multiple non-covalent bonding mechanisms within the same polymeric structure. By merging hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions, pi-pi stacking, and/or metal coordination in different polymer blocks, the system achieves cumulative bonding strength that compensates for the individually weaker non-covalent interactions. This merging allows retention of modularity and tunability while achieving sufficient overall bonding strength for effective drug delivery.
Data Source
AI summary
According to one aspect, implantable or insertable medical devices are provided, which contain polymeric release regions that release one or more therapeutic agents. The polymeric release regions, in turn, contain the following: (i) a first bonding polymer having a first polymer block and a first bonding group and (ii) a second bonding polymer having a second polymer block and a second bonding group. A therapeutic agent is disposed beneath or within the polymeric release region. The first and second polymer blocks can be the same as or different from one another, as can the first and second bonding groups. The first and second bonding groups are bound to one another via non-covalent bonding, for example, via electrostatic interaction, coordinative bonds, π-π stacking, or hydrogen bonding. According to another aspect, implantable or insertable medical devices are provided, which have a polymeric region that comprises (a) a first polymer having a first polymer block and a first bonding group and (b) a therapeutic agent having a bonding group that bonds to said first bonding group via non-covalent bonding at ambient temperature.