Development of implant tablet for a week-long sustained release

An implant tablet for a week-long sustained release was developed by the direct compression method using poly-DL-lactic acid (PLA) and poly(DL-lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) copolymer (PLGA) as a matrix and phenol red (PR) as a model drug. The in vitro release was affected by formulations, especially by drug content and polymer species. The release rate correlated with the rate of absorption of water. The implant tablet (30 mg) containing 1 mg of PR, prepared using PLGA (MW 10,000; lactic acid/glycolic acid=1:1, mol/mol) by compression at 50 kg/cm(2) for 10 s, was found to efficiently exhibit a week-long sustained release in vitro, and applied in vivo. The remaining amount or plasma concentration of PR after s.c. administration of the implant tablet to rats demonstrated that the implant tablet showed a week-long sustained release in vivo. The present implant tablet is suggested to be useful as a drug delivery system for supplying drugs for approximately 1 week.