Feasibility Study: A Novel Technique for Forming Diffusion-Controlled Drug Delivery Polymer Microcapsules

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The development of microdevices for controlled drug delivery is currently an area of intense research activity. These devices enable localized administration of a given agent in vivo which maximises patient safety and comfort and can greatly reduce treatment costs. There are, however, two significant barriers in terms of cost and reliability which have hindered their uptake in clinical practice. Firstly, methods for efficient drug encapsulation which are both cost-effective and provide adequate quality control are lacking. In this proposal we identify a novel approach to drug encapsulation based on co-axial electro-hydrodynamic flow which offers a simple, one-step method for the mass production of polymer microcapsules. Secondly, a reliable means of controlling and/or varying the rate of drug release has yet to be developed. We will investigate the use of ultrasound to vary the rate of diffusion from implanted/injected devices to provide a means of controlling drug administration that is accurate and non-invasive. A successful outcome will have significant impact for the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries, from whom the project has already attracted considerable support, and will provide the basis for future, larger research projects to develop the work.