Drug delivery systems have unusual materials requirements
which derive mainly from their therapeutic role: to administer drugs over
prolonged periods of time at rates that are independent of patient-to-patient
variables. The chemical nature of the surfaces of such devices may stimulate
biorejection processes which can be enhanced or suppressed by the simultaneous
presence of the drug that is being administered. Selection of materials for
such systems is further complicated by the need for compatibility with the drug
contained within the system. A review of selected drug delivery systems is
presented. This leads to a definition of the technologies required to develop
successfully such systems as well as to categorize the classes of drug delivery
systems available to the therapist.
There
are five major challenges to the Biomaterials scientist:
- How to minimize the influence on delivery rate of the transient biological response that accompanies implantation of any object
- How to select a composition, size, shape, and flexibility that optimizes biocompatibility
- How to make an intravascular delivery system that will retain long-term functionality
- How to make a percutaneous lead for those delivery systems that cannot be implanted but which must retain functionality for extended periods
- How to make biosensors of adequate compatibility and stability to use with the ultimate drug delivery system-a system that operates with feedback control.
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