New Hydrogel Releases Drugs In Response To Pressure

Researchers in Japan have developed a new hydrogel that is capable of releasing drugs in response to pressure applied by the patient.

AsianScientist (Mar. 25, 2013) – Researchers at the NIMS International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics in Japan have developed a gel material that is capable of releasing drugs in response to pressure applied by the patient.

Led by Dr. Katsuhiko Ariga, a MANA Principal Investigator, the researchers developed a stimuli-responsive drug delivery system in which the drug is released when the patient applies manual pressure to the gel. Their results were published in the journal Journal of Materials Chemistry B.

The gel is produced by crosslinking calcium alginate, which is a naturally-derived component contained in algae, with cyclodextrin, which is a saccharide.

Using samples of the gel containing the anti-emetic drug ondansetron, the researchers showed that the drug was released when stimulus-mimicking finger pressure by the patient was applied, and found that this effect was maintained for at least three days. This is the first report in which a host-guest interaction is controlled by mechanical stimulus.

Unlike oral administration of drugs, which is difficult for patients experiencing nausea during cancer chemotherapy, if this material is introduced under the skin, it is expected to release the drug simply by pressing or rubbing it.

Because this material does not require any additional devices, it can be used even during natural disasters or in developing countries where facilities may be inadequate, the authors say.

It will also be possible for patients to administer drugs “on demand,” for example, for relief from cancer pain, hay fever, or asthma. Thus, the material offers an extremely convenient new dosing strategy, they say.

The article can be found at: Izawa H et al. (2013) β-Cyclodextrin-crosslinked alginate gel for patient-controlled drug delivery systems: regulation of host–guest interactions with mechanical stimuli.

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Source: NIMS.
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