An Ultrasoft and Flexible PDMS-Based Balloon-Type Implantable Device for Controlled Drug Delivery

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Non-biodegradable implants face challenges like fibroblast encapsulation, burst release, and tissue damage.
• Existing drug delivery devices struggle with long-term, controlled release for personalized medicine.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel ultrasoft and flexible balloon-type drug delivery device (USBD) for unidirectional and long-term controlled release.
• To address limitations of current non-biodegradable implants, including fibroblast encapsulation and tissue damage.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of the USBD using selective bonding of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membranes and fluid injection.
• Modulation of drug release by tuning PDMS membrane thickness and composition.
• In vivo evaluation in living rats to assess release profiles and tissue response.

Main Results:

• All USBDs exhibited zero-order release kinetics, independent of membrane properties.
• Sustained zero-order release achieved up to 30 days (1.16 μg/day) and nearly zero-order release up to 58 days (1.68 μg/day) in vitro.
• In vivo studies demonstrated zero-order release for 28 days and nearly zero-order release for 35 days in rats.
• The ultrasoft and flexible design minimized tissue damage and foreign body responses.

Conclusions:

• The USBD offers a promising approach for long-term, controlled drug delivery, overcoming key challenges associated with non-biodegradable implants.
• The device's flexibility and design contribute to reduced adverse tissue reactions.
• This technology holds potential for advancing personalized medicine through novel therapeutic modalities.