IMPLANTABLE DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM

*K. Malleswari, D. Rama Brahma Reddy, Edagottu Siva Sankar, Thorlikonda Sasikiran, Nallameka Gowri Sumana

ABSTRACT

Drug delivery systems capable of offering the flexibility of maintaining pharmacologically effective therapeutic drug levels for extended periods of time while also allowing “dosing-on demand”would be considered extremely valuable tools in modern medicine. Implantable drug delivery systems offer physicians the choice of precision delivery, either locally or into systemic circulation, while guaranteeing optimal dosing over the course of treatment. The major advantages of these systems includes targeted local delivery of the drug at a constant and predetermined rate, thereby minimizing dose required and potential side effects, while improving therapeutic efficacy. These systems are particularly useful for diseases requiring long term therapy or facing challenges with patient compliance, such as cardiovascular disease, tuberculosis, diabetes, cancer, and chronic pain management to name a few. This chapter starts with a review of various types of implantable drug delivery systems from biomaterial-based to electro-mechanical systems. Further, design approaches to optimal drug delivery including methods to tailor drug release profiles and the mechanism of release kinetics are presented. Potential therapeutic applications and biocompatibility related issues are briefly discussed next. Finally, this chapter concludes with a summary of future perspectives of implantable drug delivery systems, particularly in their applicability to precision and personalized medicine.[1]

Keywords: Implantable, drug delivery, design, manufacture.