Biodegradable, implantable drug delivery device, and process for preparing and using the same
AssigneeArthur D. Little, Inc.
InventorKenneth R. Sidman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An implantable drug delivery device comprising a matrix formed of a poly-.alpha.-amino acid component having one or more drugs and/or diagnostic agents physically contained therein. The drug or diagnostic agent is released through one or both of two mechanisms: diffusion and biodegration which results from the action of enzymes, present in the host in which the implant is placed, on the polymeric matrix material. The implant device may be designed to release the drug or drugs at predetermined rates and in predetermined sequence. One preferred configuration for the implant device is a rod which may be inserted with a trocar.
Claims38
An implant device for the controllable release of at least one substance into a living host into which it is implanted, comprising
- (a) a substance to be released within a living host;
- and
- (b) a matrix material prepared from a block copolymer of the formula ##STR6## where R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are ##STR7## and m, n, p and q range between 1 and 100, or a copolymer of two or more .alpha.-amino acids distributed at random along the chain of the formula ##STR8## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are defined above, which is biocompatible and biodegradable within the host environment into which it is implanted;
- does not form covalent bonds with said substance to be released;
- has an average molecular weight of 20,000 to 1,000,000;
- and is essentially free of any carrier of said substance, said substance being distributed within said matrix to provide a controlled rate of release for systemic utilization within said host by diffusion, hydrolysis or a combination thereof of said matrix material said implant device being shaped as an injectable configuration.
A process for delivering at least one substance at a controllable release rate into a living host, comprising implanting into said host an implant device, comprising
- (a) a pharmaceutically effective quantity of a substance to be released within a living host;
- and
- (b) a matrix material prepared from a block copolymer of the formula ##STR9## where R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are ##STR10## and m, n, p and q range between 1 and 100, or a copolymer of two or more .alpha.-amino acids distributed at random along the chain of the formula ##STR11## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are defined above which is biocompatible and biodegradable within the host environment into which it is implanted;
- does not form covalent bonds with said substance to be released;
- has an average molecular weight of 20,000 to 1,000,000;
- and is essentially free of any carrier for said substance, said substance being distributed within said matrix to provide a controlled rate of release for systemic utilization within said host by diffusion, hydrolysis or a combination thereof of said matrix material, said implant device being shaped as an injectable configuration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.