Role of Sterilization on In Situ Gel-Forming Polymer Stability

In recent years, stimulus-sensitive drug delivery systems have been developed for parenteral administration as a depot system. In situ systems incorporate smart polymers that undergo a phase transition at the site of administration. All parenteral and ocular dosage forms must meet sterility requirements. Careful selection of the sterilization method is required for any type of stimuli-sensitive system. Current sterilization methods are capable of altering the conformation of polymers or APIs to a certain extent, ultimately causing the loss of pharmacological and technological properties of the drug. Unfortunately, the issues of risk assessment and resolution regarding the sterilization of stimuli-sensitive systems, along with ways to stabilize such compositions, are insufficiently described in the scientific literature to date. This review provides recommendations and approaches, formulated on the basis of published experimental data, that allow the effective management of risks arising during the development of in situ systems requiring sterility.