An in situ forming polymeric gel for macromolecular drugs

摘要

The clinical use of macromolecular drugs is limited by the lack of effective drug-delivery methods that can protect and release them in a pro-active or an active form. This study describes the development and characterization of the in vitro and in vivo properties of an in situ forming polymeric gel for the delivery of phophorothioate oligonucleotides (psODNs). The formation of a polymeric gel in situ, from an ethanol-water cosolvent system has been demonstrated previously. Currently, it is hypothesized that an insoluble interpolymeric complex of biocompatible polymers, poly(methacrylic acid), 15,000 kDa, and poly(ethylene glycol), 20,000 kDa, will yield a clear solution in a biocompatible solvent system and transform into a gel at physiological pH. The gel will protect the entrapped macromolecular drug(s) and dissolve slowly to sustain the release of macromolecules over a period of time.