A Scalable Platform for Fabricating Biodegradable Microparticles with Pulsatile Drug Release

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Pulsatile drug delivery systems offer improved patient adherence and therapeutic efficacy through sequential dosing.
• Existing methods for creating pulsatile release systems can be complex and costly.
• There is a need for scalable, versatile platforms for long-acting drug formulations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel, high-throughput platform for fabricating microparticles with pulsatile drug release capabilities.
• To demonstrate the controlled release of various drugs, including biologics, using this new system.
• To establish the versatility and scalability of the PULSED platform for long-acting drug formulations.

Main Methods:

• Utilized high-resolution 3D printing and soft lithography to create biodegradable polymeric microstructures with open cavities.
• Employed a contactless heating step for sealing the drug-loaded microparticles, forming a complete shell.
• Investigated drug release profiles in vivo and in vitro using poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) particles with varying polymer properties.

Main Results:

• PULSED microparticles demonstrated tunable in vivo drug release delays of 10-36 days, dependent on polymer characteristics.
• The system successfully released over 90% of bioactive bevacizumab after a two-week delay in vitro.
• The platform showed compatibility with crystalline and amorphous polymers, injectable particle sizes, and diverse drug loading techniques.

Conclusions:

• The PULSED platform offers a simple, cost-effective, and scalable method for producing long-acting pulsatile drug delivery systems.
• This technology has the potential to significantly improve patient outcomes by enhancing adherence and therapeutic efficacy.
• PULSED represents a promising advancement in the field of controlled drug release formulations.