Implantable Polymeric Drug Delivery Devices: Classification, Manufacture, Materials, and Clinical Applications

Abstract

The oral route is a popular and convenient means of drug delivery. However, despite its advantages, it also has challenges. Many drugs are not suitable for oral delivery due to: first pass metabolism; less than ideal properties; and side-effects of treatment. Additionally, oral delivery relies heavily on patient compliance. Implantable drug delivery devices are an alternative system that can achieve effective delivery with lower drug concentrations, and as a result, minimise side-effects whilst increasing patient compliance. This article gives an overview of classification of these drug delivery devices; the mechanism of drug release; the materials used for manufacture; the various methods of manufacture; and examples of clinical applications of implantable drug delivery devices.

Journal

Journal ID (nlm-ta): Polymers (Basel)

Journal ID (iso-abbrev): Polymers (Basel)

Journal ID (publisher-id): polymers

Title: Polymers

Publisher: MDPI

ISSN (Electronic): 2073-4360

Publication date (Electronic): 12 December 2018

Publication date Collection: December 2018

Volume: 10

Issue: 12

Affiliations

School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; sstewart35@ 123456qub.ac.uk (S.A.S.); j.dominguezrobles@ 123456qub.ac.uk (J.D.-R.); r.donnelly@ 123456qub.ac.uk (R.F.D.)

Author notes

[* ]Correspondence: e.larraneta@ 123456qub.ac.uk ; Tel.: [phone]

Article

Publisher ID: polymers-10-01379

DOI: 10.3390/polym10121379

PMC ID: 6401754

Copyright statement: © 2018 by the authors.

License:

Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Categories

Subject: Review