A BIODEGRADABLE, INJECTABLE DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR NSAIDS

IN THIS RESEARCH, NSAIDS WILL BE INDIVIDUALLY INCORPORATED INTO A DELIVERY SYSTEM. THE IN VITRO DELIVERY RATES WILL BEDETERMINED, AND THEN THE SYSTEM OPTIMIZED TO OBTAIN IN VITRO DELIVERY RATES OF 1 TO 12 WEEKS. THE VARIABLES THAT WILL BE EXAMINED TO OPTIMIZE RELEASE ARE POLYMER TYPE AND MOLECULAR WEIGHT, DRUG LOADING, AND BIOCOMPATIBLE PLASTICIZER CONTENT. FIVE NSAIDS WILL BE INDIVIDUALLY EVALUATED IN THE RELEASE SYSTEM: NAPROXEN, DICLOFENAC, PIROXICAM, SULINDAC, AND FLURBIPROFEN. THE MOST PROMISING FORMULATION WILL BE EVALUATED FOR TISSUE COMPATIBILITY IN PREPARATION FOR AN IN VITRO STUDY. THE DELIVERY SYSTEM TO BE STUDIED IS BIODEGRADABLE AND BIOCOMPATIBLE, AND IT HAS BEEN SHOWN TO CAUSE NO ADVERSE TISSUE REACTIONS IN ANIMAL TESTING. IT HAS BEEN STUDIED IN VITRO AND IN VIVO FOR THE CONTROLLED RELEASE OF SEVERAL DRUGS AND IS CURRENTLY BEING STUDIED IN HUMANS UNDER AN IND. MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT CAN BE INJECTED USING STANDARD SYRINGES AND NEEDLES.