A Mathematical Model For Predicting Biodegradation And Drug Delivery From A Biodegradable Polymer

摘要

Biodegradable polymers have shown tremendous potential in the design of device for controlled drug delivery. One such area of application that is being actively investigated is stent based drug delivery. A biodegradable stent loaded with a therapeutic dose of an appropriate drug can be used hold the arterial lumen open after an angioplasty procedure and deliver the required amount of drug to the arterial tissue in order to prevent restenosis. Following procedural success the stent can absorb in the body over time. Mathematical models can serve as important tools in the development of such drug delivery devices. They are used to predict the degradation of the polymer and the release of the drug from the matrix. In developing these models, it is critical that dominating physicochemical process responsible for the degradation and drug delivery be identified and incorporated in the model. Once the model has been developed and validated with experimental data, it can be used in the design and development of optimized drug delivery systems.