In vitro and in vivo demonstration of risperidone implants in mice

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Biomaterials Science
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Medication non-adherence is a major challenge in schizophrenia treatment, impacting quality of life.
• Existing treatments rarely use implantable drug delivery systems.
• This study aimed to establish proof of concept for an implantable risperidone delivery system.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate an implantable risperidone delivery system for long-term treatment of schizophrenia.
• To assess the in vitro and in vivo performance of risperidone-loaded PLGA implants in mice.

Main Methods:

• Formulations of risperidone were created using Poly Lactic co Glycolic Acid (PLGA) with varying drug loads.
• In vitro release and stability studies were conducted.
• In vivo pharmacokinetic and behavioral studies were performed in mice.

Main Results:

• Risperidone release patterns were influenced by polymer composition and drug load.
• In vitro studies confirmed risperidone stability under physiological conditions.
• In vivo studies demonstrated the bioactivity of risperidone implants (3 mg/kg/day) and maintained reversibility.

Conclusions:

• Implantable formulations offer a viable strategy for long-term antipsychotic medication delivery.
• The developed system demonstrated sustained release for two months or longer.
• This approach may represent a paradigm shift in schizophrenia management.