Nanostructured Polymer Monoliths for Biomedical Delivery Applications

Drug delivery systems are designed to control the release rate and location of therapeutic agents in the body to achieve enhanced drug efficacy and to mitigate adverse side effects. In particular, drug-releasing implants provide sustained and localized release. We report nanostructured polymer monoliths synthesized by polymerization-induced microphase separation (PIMS) as potential implantable delivery devices. As a model system, free poly(ethylene oxide) homopolymers were incorporated into the nanoscopic poly(ethylene oxide) domains contained within a cross-linked polystyrene matrix. The in vitro release of these poly(ethylene oxide) molecules from monoliths was investigated as a function of poly(ethylene oxide) loading and molar mass as well as the molar mass and weight fraction of poly(ethylene oxide) macro-chain transfer agent used in the PIMS process for forming the monoliths. We also developed nanostructured microneedles targeting efficient and long-term transdermal drug delivery by combining PIMS and microfabrication techniques. Finally, given the prominence of poly(lactide) in drug delivery devices, the degradation rate of microphase-separated poly(lactide) in PIMS monoliths was evaluated and compared with bulk poly(lactide).