Abstract: Nanodevice and method for in vivo monitoring and release of drugs are provided. The disclosed nanodevice is characterized in having a drug-loaded nanosphere that is capable of releasing the encapsulated drugs upon magnetically stimulation. The nanodevice may also be used as a contrast agent for in vivo imaging and monitoring the concentration and distribution of the released drugs and/or active compounds injected separately into a target site of a subject.

Abstract: Nanodevice and method for in vivo monitoring and release of drugs are provided. The disclosed nanodevice is characterized in having a drug-loaded nanosphere that is capable of releasing the encapsulated drugs upon magnetically stimulation. The nanodevice may also be used as a contrast agent for in vivo imaging and monitoring the concentration and distribution of the released drugs and/or active compounds injected separately into a target site of a subject.

Abstract: A hollow sphere from amphiphilic chitosan derivatives and a method of preparing an amphiphilic chitosan derivative complex for medical use are disclosed, and the hollow sphere from amphiphilic chitosan derivatives comprises: chitosan derivatives represented by the following formula (I), which self-assemble and form a hollow sphere in a solvent; wherein, each R1 is independently hydrogen, C1˜C4 alkyl, C1˜C6 carboxyl, sulfate group, or phosphate group, each R2 is independently hydrogen, C1˜C12 alkyl, C1˜C6 carboxyl, or C2˜C12 acyl group, and m is an integer of 100-2000.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are electrolyte solutions and methods for electrolytic co-deposition of calcium phosphate and drug composites. The electrolyte solution may be formed by mixing solutions comprising calcium and phosphate precursors together to form an electrolyte solution. The electrolyte solution can have a water content less than 30 weight percent. The electrolyte solution may comprise a water-soluble non-aqueous solvent. A therapeutic agent, such as water-insoluble drug, is also present in the solution. The electrolyte solution thus formed may be used to co-deposit a calcium phosphate coating and the therapeutic agent on a substrate.

Abstract: The invention discloses the synthesis and manufacturing of a novel core-shell nano-carrier with a drug-containing nanocomposite core surrounding with a single crystalline magnetic iron oxide shell. With a unique core-shell configuration, active agents such as drugs and biomolecules encapsulated in the core with an outer single-crystalline thin iron oxide shell can be perfectly protected from environmental damages and in the meantime, eliminating un-desirable release due to un-controllable diffusion of the active molecules from the nanocapsules during the course of delivery in patient's body, before reaching the disease sites.

Abstract: This application relates to a composition comprising a mixture of different organic solvents formulated for controlled drug release. The release profile of the drug can be regulated by adjusting the compositional ratios of the solvents. In one embodiment of the invention a first solvent is water-soluble and a second solvent is water-insoluble. The first and second solvents are miscible and together form a solution containing the drug. The hydrophobicity of the composition can be adjusted by altering the relative amount of the second solvent. The composition also includes a solid lipid dissolved in the drug-containing solution. In aqueous environments the lipid may precipitate to form a thin membrane in an outer surface portion of the composition, thereby further regulating the release of the drug. The membrane is preferably renewable. That is, as the outermost portion of the lipid is biodegraded at a target location in vivo, additional outer portions of the lipid precipitate to renew the thin membrane.

Abstract: This application relates to a microdevice for delivering drugs to a target location. The microdevice comprises a plurality of nanocapsules assembled together, each having an outer hydrophobic shell and an inner liquid core contained within the shell. At least one drug is dissolved within the inner liquid core. The liquid core comprises a mixture of solvents including at least one solvent for maintaining the hydrophilicity of the inner core (and hence the phase difference between the polymeric shell and the liquid core) and at least one second solvent for enhancing the solubility and bioavailability of the drug. For example, the second solvent may be selected to enable a hydrophobic drug to dissolve within the hydrophilic inner core environment. The inner core may also include a small amount of water-soluble polymer.

Abstract: This application relates to a thin foam coating comprising discrete, closed-cell capsules. The coating may be applied to an implantable medical device, such as a stent. The closed-cell capsules each having an outer polymeric shell and an inner liquid core containing the drug. The polymeric shells degrade in vivo to achieve controlled elution of the drug.

Abstract: This application relates to a multi-layer drug delivery device and a method of manufacture. The device comprises a substrate; at least one first layer on the substrate containing the drug and a first solvent; and at least one second layer applied to the first layer to regulate release of the drug from the first layer, wherein the second layer comprises a polymer. The first solvent substantially prevents direct contact between the drug and the polymer. When applied to the first layer, the polymer is preferably dissolved in a second solvent which is immiscible with the first solvent to substantially prevent inter-diffusion between the first and second layers. In one application the substrate is a medical device, such as an implantable stent, having a biocompatible outer surface. The second layer is preferably biodegradable, bioabsorbable and/or bioresolvable in vivo to permit gradual exposure of the first layer and elution of the drug therefrom.

Abstract: A stable and taste masked pharmaceutical dosage form includes porous apatite grains and a drug entrapped in pores of said grains, wherein said grains have a size of 0.1-1000 &mgr;m and said pores of said grains have an opening of 0.5-300 nm. A process for preparing the stable and taste masked pharmaceutical dosage form is also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel room-temperature process for obtaining calcium phosphate, in particular hydroxyapatite, coatings and microspheres that encapsulate drugs, proteins, genes, DNA for therapeutical use. The coatings and microspheres are designed to perform a defined biological function related to drug delivery, such as gene therapy through gene delivery. A novel method for encapsulation, and subsequent controlled release of therapeutically active agents from such biofunctional coatings and microspheres is disclosed. Such coatings and microspheres are useful for side-effects free, long-term, targeted, controlled release and delivery of drugs, proteins, DNA, and other therapeutic agents.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel room-temperature process for obtaining calcium phosphate, in particular hydroxyapatite, coatings and microspheres that encapsulate drugs, proteins, genes, DNA for therapeutical use. The coatings and microspheres are designed to perform a defined biological function related to drug delivery, such as gene therapy through gene delivery. A novel method for encapsulation, and subsequent controlled release of therapeutically active agents from such biofunctional coatings and microspheres is disclosed. Such coatings and microspheres are useful for side-effects free, long-term, targeted, controlled release and delivery of drugs, proteins, DNA, and other therapeutic agents.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel sol-gel calcium phosphate, in particular hydroxyapatite ceramic coatings and processes of making same at low temperature. Such coatings are useful, inter alia, for dental implants and bone-metal contact appliances. A sol-gel process for preparing a crystallized hydroxyapatite which comprises: (a) hydrolysing a phosphor precursor in a water based medium; (b) adding a calcium salt precursor to the medium after the phosphite has been hydrolysed to obtain a hydroxyapatite gel; and (c) calcining the crystallized hydroxyapatite at a suitable elevated temperature.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the encapsulation of biologically important proteins into transparent, porous silica matrices by an alcohol-free, aqueous, colloidal sol-gel process, and to the biological materials encapsulated thereby. The process is exemplified by studies involving encapsulated cytochrome c, catalase, myoglobin, and hemoglobin, although non-proteinaceous biomaterials, such as active DNA or RNA fragments, cells or even tissues, may also be encapsulated in accordance with the present methods. Conformation, and hence activity of the biomaterial, is successfully retained after encapsulation as demonstrated by optical characterization of the molecules, even after long-term storage. The retained conformation of the biomaterial is strongly correlated to both the rate of gelation and the subsequent drying speed of the encapsulatng matrix.

Abstract: A sintered silicon carbide (SiC) body prepared by a process which contains the steps of: (a) preparing a raw batch containing: (i) a raw silicon carbide mixture containing about 10 to about 90 weight percent of an .alpha.-phase SiC powder and about 90 to about 10 weight percent of a .beta.-phase SiC powder; (ii) aluminum oxide (Al.sub.2 O.sub.3) powder, about 3 to 15 weight percent of the raw silicon carbide mixture; (iii) yttrium oxide (Y.sub.2 O.sub.3) powder, about 2 to 10 weight percent of the raw silicon carbide mixture; (iv) an organic binding agent and a dispersing agent; and (v) deionized water; (b) drying the raw batch to form a green body; (c) heating the green body at temperatures between about 400.degree. and 800.degree. C. to remove the organic binding agent and the dispersing agent; and (d) subjecting the green body to a two-stage pressureless sintering process, first at a first sintering temperature between about 1,800.degree. and about 1,950.degree. C. for 0.5 to 8.

Abstract: Compositions having the general formula (Ca.sub.x Mg.sub.1-x)Zr.sub.4 (PO.sub.4).sub.6 where x is between 0.5 and 0.99 are produced by solid state and sol-gel processes. In a preferred embodiment, when x is between 0.5 and 0.8, the MgCZP materials have near-zero coefficients of thermal expansion. The MgCZPs of the present invention also show unusually low thermal conductivities, and are stable at high temperatures. Macrostructures formed from MgCZP are useful in a wide variety of high-temperature applications. In a preferred process, calcium, magnesium, and zirconium nitrate solutions have their pH adjusted to between 7 and 9 either before or after the addition of ammonium dihydrogen phosphate. After dehydration to a gel, and calcination at temperatures in excess of 850.degree. C. for approximately 16 hours, single phase crystalline MgCZP powders with particle sizes ranging from approximately 20 nm to 50 nm result. The MgCZP powders are then sintered at temperatures ranging from 1200.degree. C. to 1350.