Researchers at the Technical University of Munich have developed active droplets that consist of a mixture of oil droplets and hydrogel. These canmedicinal active ingredientsnot only dose precisely, but also administer continuously over periods of up to several days. The drugs in the droplets are released at a constant rate. This reduces the risk of overdosing or underdosing.
Active droplets for infusions
Actually, Professor Job Boekhoven studied the origins of life. Together with his team, the chemist wanted to understand how molecules in the ancient ocean managed to connect the precursors of the first life and form cells. He says his team has been experimenting with oil drops in research. The researchers were particularly interested in mechanisms that protect molecules from degradation. In addition, they discovered that unstable molecules that form oil droplets survive much longer than molecules that cannot form droplets. In a sense, the droplets protect the molecules inside.
However, the oily protective shield is not completely impermeable and some of the oil molecules react with the surrounding water. This hydrolysis causes the droplets to slowly but continuously lose mass and shrink until they eventually disappear. “The constant decay of these 'active droplets' led us to the idea of using them to dose drugs,” recalls Boekhoven.
Pharmacologists have long sought methods to deliver drugs at a constant rate. The ingredients of ointments or tablets are usually released quickly, increasing the risk of overdose. Additionally, the rapid release shortens the duration of the intended effect. Methods for releasing drugs over extended periods of time at a constant rate are rare and often complicated to produce.
The scientists found that the droplets continuously release the drug as they become smaller and smaller. It follows that the rate of drug release remains constant over the entire period. Thus, Boekhoven explains the process of possible drug administration. He adds that the strength of this approach lies in its simplicity. You only need three components: droplets of a hydrolyzable oil, a drug that is distributed in the oil, and atherapeutic hydrogel, which stabilizes the position of the droplets, according to the professor.
Many areas of application
With the new oil-hydrogel mixture, active ingredients can be administered not only continuously, but also at a predetermined speed. The droplets can be loaded with larger or smaller doses of active ingredients. These are released as soon as the oil droplets come into contact with the water in the blood or tissue. The hydrolysis proceeds at a constant rate until the droplets have completely dissolved.
Active droplets have many potential applications. For example, they could be used in disinfectants or healing ointments to accelerate any slow healing. AfterStudyA patent application has already been filed for the oil hydrogel material.
