The new biodegradable inplant

Recognising the need for a drug delivery method that reduces patient inconsistency, researchers at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) have engineered a drug delivery device that slowly releases glaucoma medication, inside the eye for over six months before dissolving away.

Researchers toyed with degradable materials that would slowly release medication while dissolving in the eye, before settling on a “sandwich” of biodegradable films surrounding an anti-glaucoma drug. Using this design, “we can load enough drug in the tiny device to last over six months,” said lead researcher Dr Tejal Desai, chair of the Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, a joint department of the UCSF Schools of Pharmacy and Medicine.

The researchers implanted the drug-releasing devices and measured eye pressure on a weekly basis for 24 weeks. Beyond some rare and minor complications, the device successfully reduced eye pressure in the animals for the duration of the study.

“While there have been important advances in eye drop formulations, our device substantially reduces the burden of patient compliance in a safe and effective way,” said Desai. “Next steps will involve scaling up, developing device fabrication procedures that comply with current good manufacturing practices, and testing the device in larger animals, before moving on to clinical trials.”

The team’s proof-of-concept trials were reported in the Journal of Controlled Release.