Drug delivery composition

Abstract

There is provided a non-water soluble drug delivery composition comprising a conjugate and a polymer matrix wherein exposure of the composition to electromagnetic radiation at a suitable pre-determined wavelength and intensity induces release of the active ingredient from the composition. The conjugate is attached to the polymer matrix through non-covalent interactions. There is also provided a drug delivery apparatus formed from the drug delivery composition.

1 . A non-water soluble drug delivery composition comprising;
 a conjugate and a polymer matrix, said conjugate comprising an active ingredient bonded to a protecting group;   wherein exposure of the composition to electromagnetic radiation at a suitable pre-determined wavelength and intensity induces release of the active ingredient from the composition;   wherein the polymer matrix is formed from one or more copolymer compounds; and   wherein the, or one of the, copolymer compounds comprises the protecting group.   
     
     
         2 . A non-water soluble drug delivery composition comprising:
 a conjugate and a polymer matrix said conjugate comprising an active ingredient bonded to a protecting group via a first functional group;   wherein exposure of the composition to electromagnetic radiation at a suitable pre-determined wavelength and intensity induces release of the active ingredient from the composition; and   wherein the protecting group comprises a second functional group attached to the polymer matrix through non-covalent interactions.   
     
     
         3 . The composition as claimed in either one of  claim 1  or  2  wherein the active ingredient is bonded to the protecting group via an ester or carbamate group and wherein upon said exposure to electromagnetic radiation the ester group reacts to form a carboxylic acid group on the active ingredient or the carbamate group reacts to form a secondary amine group on the active ingredient. 
     
     
         4 . The composition as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the polymer matrix does not comprise cyclodextrin. 
     
     
         5 . The composition as claimed in  claim 1  which dissolves in 5 parts per million or less in water. 
     
     
         6 . The composition as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the non-covalent interactions comprise at least one of hydrogen bonds, Van der Waals attractions, π-π interactions, electrostatic interactions or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The composition as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the polymer matrix comprises one or more of, poly(ethylene), poly(propylene), poly(vinyl chloride), poly(vinyl pyrrolidoone), poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate), poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(methacrylic acid), poly(acrylic acid), poly(diethylaminoethylmethacrylate), poly(diethylaminoethylethacrylate), silicone, styrene-isoprene/butadiene-styrene, poly(lactic acid), poly(glycolic acid), poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid), poly(caprolactone), poly(orthoesters) and polyphosphazines. 
     
     
         8 . The composition as claimed in  claim 1  or  claim 2  wherein the protecting group is a dimethoxybenzoin group, a nitro benzyl ester group, an optionally chemically protected alkylamino group or a thioalkyl Grignard reagent group. 
     
     
         9 . The composition as claimed in  claim 1  or  claim 2  wherein the protecting group is a dimethoxybenzoinyl group; a benzoinyl group; a nitro benzyl, dinitrobenzyl or trinitrobenzyl group; a benzyloxycarbonyl group; a 1-(2-nitrophenyl)ethyl group; or a 6-nitroveratryloxycarbonyl group. 
     
     
         10 . The composition as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the protecting group is 3,5-dimethoxybenzoinyl group. 
     
     
         11 . The composition as claimed in  claim 1  in the form of a tablet, capsule, suspension, cream, ointment, lotion, powder, gel, solution, paste, spray, foam, oil, enema, suppository, controlled or slow release matrix or depot. 
     
     
         12 . The composition as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the active ingredient is an antibiotic, analgesic, vitamin, anti-histamine, antimicrobial, an anti-histamine, an antipyretic, a hormone, a neurotransmitter or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory. 
     
     
         13 . The composition as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the active ingredient is acetyl salicyl, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, diclofenac, nalidixic acid, ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, clarithromycin, vancomycin, fexofenadine, desloratidine, levocetirizine, olopatadine, levocabastine, gamma-amino butyric acid, lidocaine, amethocaine, testosterone, cholesterol or oestrogen. 
     
     
         14 . The composition as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the second functional group is one or more thiol, amino, alkylamino, mercapto, carboxylic acid or alcohol functional groups, said functional group or functional groups being bonded to the polymer matrix. 
     
     
         15 . The composition as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the second functional group is one or more alkylamino or mercapto functional groups. 
     
     
         16 . The composition as claimed  claim 1  wherein the protecting group is substantially permanently incorporated into the polymer matrix and substantially all of the protecting group is retained in the composition throughout and following the exposure of the composition to electromagnetic radiation. 
     
     
         17 . The composition as claimed in  claim 1  wherein one or more of the copolymer compounds comprises vinyl or acrylate monomers or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         18 . A drug delivery apparatus comprising the composition as claimed  claim 1 . 
     
     
         19 . The drug delivery apparatus of  claim 18  in the form of:
 apheresis equipment, blood bags; blood administration tubing; extracorporeal membrane oxygenation equipment; dialysis and peritoneal drainage bags; urinary collection bags; urological catheters; wound drainage bags and tubes; enteral feeding equipment; nasogastric tubes; breast pump tubes; intravenous catheters, drip chambers, tubing and solution bags; total parenteral nutrition bags; hemodialysis tubing and catheters; film wrap; gloves; endotrachael tubes; tracheostomy tubes; esophagel tubes; humidifiers; ocular prosthesis; or sterile water bags and tubing. 
 
     
     
         20 . The drug delivery apparatus as claimed  claim 18  wherein the apparatus is formed from a material comprising the composition. 
     
     
         21 . The drug delivery apparatus of  claim 20  wherein the apparatus is formed from a material consisting essentially of the composition. 
     
     
         22 . The drug delivery apparatus as claimed in  claim 18  comprising a coating of the composition. 
     
     
         23 . A method of administering an active ingredient to a patient in need thereof comprising the steps of administering the drug delivery apparatus as claimed in  claim 18  to the patient, and exposing the drug delivery apparatus to electromagnetic radiation at a predetermined wavelength and intensity suitable to induce release of the active ingredient from the drug delivery apparatus. 
     
     
         24 . The method as claimed in  claim 23  wherein the structure and integrity of the polymer matrix is maintained throughout exposure of the drug delivery apparatus to electromagnetic radiation. 
     
     
         25 . The method as claimed in  claim 23  wherein the rate of release of the active ingredient is predicatable and controllable. 
     
     
         26 . The method as claimed in  claim 23  wherein the rate of release of the active ingredient is controlled through controlling the wavelength, amplitude and intensity of the electromagnetic radiation, or the location and duration of the exposure to electromagnetic radiation. 
     
     
         27 . The method as claimed in  claim 23  wherein the rate of release of the active ingredient is substantially constant. 
     
     
         28 . The method as claimed in  claim 23  wherein the release of the active ingredient is stopped and started repeatedly through stopping and starting exposure of the drug delivery apparatus to electromagnetic radiation. 
     
     
         29 . The method as claimed in  claim 23  wherein at least 99% of the protecting group is retained in the drug delivery apparatus throughout the exposure of the drug delivery apparatus to electromagnetic radiation. 
     
     
         30 . The method as claimed in  claim 29  wherein at least 99.95% of the protecting group is retained in the drug delivery apparatus throughout the exposure of the drug delivery apparatus to electromagnetic radiation. 
     
     
         31 . A method of treating a patient in need thereof comprising the steps of administering the drug delivery apparatus as claimed in  claim 18  to the patient and exposing the drug delivery apparatus to electromagnetic radiation at a predetermined wavelength and intensity suitable to induce release of the active ingredient from the drug delivery apparatus. 
     
     
         32 . The method as claimed in  claim 31  wherein the method is for the treatment of a disease or condition selected from the group consisting of:
 urinary tract infection, pneumonia, ocular and skin infection, hypersensitivity, glaucoma, posterior capsular opacification, diabetes, epilepsy and pain. 
 
     
     
         33 . A method of substantially permanently incorporating a conjugate into a polymer matrix, said conjugate comprising an active ingredient bonded to a protecting group via a first functional group, wherein the protecting group comprises a second functional group, said method comprising the steps of:
 reacting the conjugate with the polymer matrix to form non-covalent interactions between the second functional group and the polymer matrix to form a drug delivery composition, said active ingredient being releasable from the drug delivery composition upon exposure of the drug delivery composition to electromagnetic radiation at a suitable predetermined wavelength and intensity.   
     
     
         34 . A method of substantially permanently incorporating a protecting group into a polymer matrix, said protecting group being bonded to an active ingredient, said method comprising the steps of:
 forming a copolymer comprising the protecting group, and a suitable monomer and copolymerising the mixture to form the polymer matrix,   wherein said active ingredient is releasable from the polymer matrix in a controllable and predictable manner upon exposure of the polymer matrix to electromagnetic radiation at a suitable predetermined wavelength and intensity.   
     
     
         35 . The method as claimed in  claim 34  wherein the active ingredient is bonded to the protecting group after the step of copolymerising the mixture to form the polymer matrix. 
     
     
         36 . The method as claimed in  claim 34  wherein the copolymer is mixed with vinyl or acrylate monomers or combinations thereof prior to polymerisation. 
     
     
         37 . The method of forming a drug delivery device comprising incorporating the composition as claimed in  claim 1  in an apparatus suitable for drug delivery. 
     
     
         38 . The method as claimed in  claim 37  wherein the apparatus suitable for drug delivery is formed from a material and the composition is incorporated into the material prior to formation of the drug delivery apparatus. 
     
     
         39 . The method as claimed in  claim 37  wherein the composition is coated onto at least a portion of a surface of the apparatus suitable for drug delivery.