Drug Delivery

New biomedicine study findings have been reported by scientists at Drexel University

"In this current work there is evidence shown that suggests these micelle-like structures do not dissociate below their critical micelle concentration (CMC) when the PEG weight percent is at least 68, releasing physically entrapped drug from intact micelles over a 3-day period. However, 55 wt % PEG micelles dissociate below their CMC, and release their physically entrapped drug within 8 h. Conjugate polymer micelles most closely approach a linear release profile over a 5-day period. Conjugate micelles with free drug incorporated, known as combination micelle-like structures, release drug over 4 days. However, these combination micelles have the fastest burst release indicating that free drug was potentially dominating the first 8 h of release, after which hydrolysis of covalently linked drug took over. In vivo behavioral studies can assess haloperidol bioactivity from drug loaded micelle-like structures on ketamine induced hyperlocomotion. Results are consistent with in vitro release data, showing that conjugate and combination micelles continue to release haloperidol 4 days post injection, attenuating the effects of the ketamine induced hyperlocomotion," wrote M.L. Hans and colleagues, Drexel University.

The researchers concluded: "Furthermore, results indicate that the sedative side effects of haloperidol were reduced with the micelle delivery systems as compared to the acute haloperidol injection."

Hans and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B (Evaluation of in vitro release and in vivo efficacy of mPEG-PLA-haloperidol conjugate micelle-like structures. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B, 2007;83(2):422-30).

For additional information, contact M.L. Hans, Biomaterials and Drug Delivery Laboratory, Dept. of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104 USA..

The publisher's contact information for the Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B is: Wiley-Liss, Division John Wiley & Sons Inc., 111 River St., Hoboken, NJ 07030, USA.

Keywords: United States, Philadelphia, Bioengineering, Biomedical Engineering, Biomedicine, Drugs, Haloperidol, Nanotechnology, Pharmaceuticals, Therapy, Treatment.

This article was prepared by Biotech Business Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Biotech Business Week via NewsRx.com.