Reverse Thermo-responsive Polymers for Sustained Delivery

摘要

Delivery of a therapeutic agent where needed in vivo (on site) at the required dose is a key issue faced in a number of interventions. Effective strategies to resolve this offer significant benefits, one of the key advantages being the use of lower doses compared to traditional administration methods such as in oral capsules or intravenus injections. This advantage coupled with sustained release of the agent on site at the required level over a long period of time eliminates the need for repeated interventions and set new standards in drug delivery technolgies. Such novel strategies lead to significant economic benefits, less toxic after effects (use of lower doses), minimal organ damage and most importantly less trauma to the patient. CSIRO has developed a series of aqueous polymer solutions capable of encapsulating a range of therapeutic agents, that are injectable through a fine needle, and form instantaneous gels at physiological temperatures.