A novel biodegradable gel delivers Parkinson’s medications via a single weekly shot, potentially replacing current regimens of multiple pills per day. The corresponding study was published in Drug Delivery and Translational Research.
Existing treatment options for Parkinson’s disease include oral formulations that should be taken several times per day. This can be difficult for patients to maintain, especially those who are elderly or who have difficulty swallowing. Alternative methods of drug delivery may thus increase compliance.
For the current study, researchers developed a long-acting injectable gel that steadily delivers two Parkinson’s medications- levodopa and carbidopa- over a week. The formulation combines an FDA-approved biodegradable polymer PLGA with Eudragit L-100, a pH-sensitive polymer.
Lab tests confirmed that the drug delivery system is both effective and safe. An in vitro release study demonstrated an initial burst of 34.17% for levodopa and 37.16% for carbidopa in the first 24 hours. By day 7, 92% and 81% of levodopa and carbidopa had been released. The researchers further found that the implant degraded by 82% within a week and displayed no significant toxicity in cell viability tests.
"The implications of this research are profound. By reducing the frequency of dosing from multiple times a day to a weekly injection is a major step forward in Parkinson's therapy. We're not just improving how the drug is delivered; we're improving patients' lives,” said lead author of the study, Professor Sanjay Garg from the Centre for Pharmaceutical Innovation at the University of South Australia, in a press release.
Prof Garg added that the technology may be used for other chronic conditions too, including cancer, diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders, and pain management as well as chronic infections that require long-term drug delivery. The system could be adjusted to release drugs over a few days or multiple weeks according to therapeutic needs.
Sources: Science Daily, Drug Delivery and Translational Research