Abstract: An expandable medical device has a plurality of elongated struts joined together to form a substantially cylindrical device which is expandable from a cylinder having a first diameter to a cylinder having a second diameter. At least one of the plurality of struts includes at least one opening extending at least partially through a thickness of the strut. A beneficial agent is loaded into the opening within the strut in layers to achieve desired temporal release kinetics of the agent. Alternatively, the beneficial agent is loaded in a shape which is configured to achieve the desired agent delivery profile. A wide variety of delivery profiles can be achieved including zero order, pulsatile, increasing, decrease, sinusoidal, and other delivery profiles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to method and apparatus for dispensing a beneficial agent into an expandable medical device. The method includes the step of placing an expandable medical device on a mandrel, the medical device forming a cylindrical device having a plurality of openings and dispensing a beneficial agent into the plurality of openings.

Abstract: Hydrogels are described which have delayed swelling properties. A hydrogel is formed by reacting a hydrophilic monomer, a first crosslinker, and a second crosslinker. The first crosslinker defines the volume expansion of the hydrogel in an aqueous environment, and the second crosslinker, which is biodegradable, can modulate the swelling rate of the hydrogel in aqueous solution. In its dry state, the hydrogel (xerogel) is flexible and elastic. It can also be cut with a knife or scissors, or molded or shaped by hand. The ready shapeability of the xerogel by trimming or compression affords a superior hydrogel for medical applications.

Abstract: The implantable medical devices are configured to release at least one therapeutic agent from a matrix affixed to the implantable body with a release profile which is programmable to the agent and treatment. The matrix is formed such that the concentration of the therapeutic agent in the matrix varies as a gradient relative to a surface of the implantable body. The change in the concentration gradient of the agent in the matrix directly controls the rate of elution of the agent from the matrix. The therapeutic agent matrix can be disposed in the stent or on surfaces of the stent in various configurations, including within volumes defined by the stent, such as openings, holes, or concave surfaces, as a reservoir of agent, and alternatively as a coating on all or a portion of the surfaces of the stent structure.

Abstract: Fast-dissolving pharmaceutical tablets comprising mannose are described. The mannose component imparts both structure-forming and fast-dissolution properties to the tablets. Granulation of tablet components and humidification forms strong liquid bridges at the surface interfaces of mannose particles, which leads to strengthened tablets. The mannose particles, however, remain porous following compression so that contact with moisture, e.g., saliva in the mouth, leads rapidly to tablet disintegration and dissolution.

Abstract: Fast-melting tablets contain particles of an active ingredient and ion-exchange resin complex to mask unpleasant taste associated with the active ingredient. The resin complex particles can be coated or uncoated to impart sustained release properties to the active ingredient. A fast-melting tablet also comprises a dry binder and bulk diluent to form highly plastic granules that are subsequently compressed into tablets.

Abstract: The present invention relates to method and apparatus for dispensing a beneficial agent into an expandable medical device. The method includes the step of placing an expandable medical device on a mandrel, the medical device forming a cylindrical device having a plurality of openings and dispensing a beneficial agent into the plurality of openings.

Abstract: An expandable medical device has a plurality of elongated struts joined together to form a substantially cylindrical device which is expandable from a cylinder having a first diameter to a cylinder having a second diameter. At least one of the plurality of struts includes at least one opening extending at least partially through a thickness of said strut. A beneficial agent is loaded into the opening within the strut in layers to achieve desired temporal release kinetics of the agent. Alternatively, the beneficial agent is loaded in a shape which is configured to achieve the desired agent delivery profile. A wide variety of delivery profiles can be achieved including zero order, pulsatile, increasing, decrease, sinusoidal, and other delivery profiles.

Abstract: Hydrogels having improved elasticity and mechanical strength properties are obtained by subjecting a hydrogel formulation containing a strengthening agent to chemical or physical crosslinking conditions subsequent to initial gel formation. Superporous hydrogels having improved elasticity and mechanical strength properties are similarly obtained whenever the hydrogel formulation is provided with a foaming agent. Interpenetrating networks of polymer chains comprised of primary polymer(s) and strengthening polymer(s) are thereby formed. The primary polymer affords capillary-based water sorption properties while the strengthening polymer imparts significantly enhanced mechanical strength and elasticity to the hydrogel or superporous hydrogel. Suitable strengthening agents can be natural or synthetic polymers, polyelectrolytes, or neutral, hydrophilic polymers.

Abstract: Bioanalytical device that includes a biofunctional component and an optional sensor component. The device includes arrays of addressable, durable, asymmetric biofunctional membranes containing protein transducers capable of unidirectional transport of analytes. Suitable protein transducers include members of the ATP-binding cassette family, such as P-glycoprotein.

Abstract: Hydrotropic polymer micelles effective for increasing the water solubility of poorly soluble drugs are described. Such hydrotropic polymer micelles have the combined properties of polymer micelles and hydrotropic agents, which display a synergistic effect for increasing the solubility of such drugs. Hydrotropic polymer micelles are formed in solution from amphiphilic copolymers that comprise a hydrophilic polymer and a hydrophobic polymer having pendant hydrotropic agents. A preferred copolymer is a di-, tri- or multi-block copolymer composed of hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymer chains. A particularly preferred hydrophilic chain comprises polyethyleneoxide (PEG) and a preferred hydrophobic chain comprises hydrotropic monomer units derived from nicotinamide. The micelles are found to be much more effective in solubilizing poorly soluble drugs and exhibit an excellent long-term stability even at high loading of drugs.

Abstract: A fast-melting pharmaceutical tablet comprises a porous, plastic substance, a water penetration enhancer and a binder. One or more drugs can be incorporated into the formulation at different stages of the process so as to afford a pharmaceutically active tablet. Methods of making the pharmaceutical tablet entail combining the porous, plastic material, the water penetration enhancing agent, and the binder so as to form highly plastic granules, which are compressed into tablets. The resulting tablets dissolve rapidly in the mouth and have good hardness with low brittleness. The tablets are particularly valuable to those who have difficulty swallowing conventional pills.

Abstract: A substrate for promoting growth of chondrocytes to repair articular cartilage is disclosed. The substrate comprises a polymeric material comprising aligned and nano-sized surface structures. An associated method is disclosed.

Abstract: A method for generating a plurality of drug-containing microcapsules employs one or more atomizers to form the microcapsules by the phenomenon of solvent exchange. A plurality of microdroplets of an aqueous solution is contacted with a plurality of microdroplets containing a polymer dissolved in a hydrophilic solvent under conditions whereby the polymer solution envelops the aqueous microdroplet. Exchange of solvent molecules between the aqueous core and its polymer-containing shell deposits the polymer as a membrane around the aqueous core. A preferred atomizer is a coaxial ultrasonic atomizer. Microcapsules can be generated in air as well as when submersed in a collection bath. Desired properties of the microcapsules, e.g., controlled release, can be achieved by providing protective excipients within the aqueous core, providing a hydrophilic polymer capable of undergoing a sol-to-gel transition within the aqueous core, optimizing selection of the polymer solvent, adjusting relative flow rates, and the like.

Abstract: An expandable medical device has a plurality of elongated struts joined together to form a substantially cylindrical device which is expandable from a cylinder having a first diameter to a cylinder having a second diameter. At least one of the plurality of struts includes at least one opening extending at least partially through a thickness of said strut. A beneficial agent is loaded into the opening within the strut in layers to achieve desired temporal release kinetics of the agent. Alternatively, the beneficial agent is loaded in a shape which is configured to achieve the desired agent delivery profile. A wide variety of delivery profiles can be achieved including zero order, pulsatile, increasing, decrease, sinusoidal, and other delivery profiles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to method and apparatus for dispensing a beneficial agent into an expandable medical device. The method includes the step of placing an expandable medical device on a mandrel, the medical device forming a cylindrical device having a plurality of openings and dispensing a beneficial agent into the plurality of openings.

Abstract: A method for generating a plurality of drug-containing microcapsules employs one or more atomizers to form the microcapsules by the phenomenon of solvent exchange. A plurality of microdroplets of an aqueous solution is contacted with a plurality of microdroplets containing a polymer dissolved in a hydrophilic solvent under conditions whereby the polymer solution envelops the aqueous microdroplet. Exchange of solvent molecules between the aqueous core and its polymer-containing shell deposits the polymer as a membrane around the aqueous core. A preferred atomizer is a coaxial ultrasonic atomizer. Microcapsules can be generated in air as well as when submersed in a collection bath. Desired properties of the microcapsules, e.g., controlled release, can be achieved by providing protective excipients within the aqueous core, providing a hydrophilic polymer capable of undergoing a sol-to-gel transition within the aqueous core, optimizing selection of the polymer solvent, adjusting relative flow rates, and the like.

Abstract: Hydrogels having improved elasticity and mechanical strength properties are obtained by subjecting a hydrogel formulation containing a strengthening agent to chemical or physical crosslinking conditions subsequent to initial gel formation. Superporous hydrogels having improved elasticity and mechanical strength properties are similarly obtained whenever the hydrogel formulation is provided with a foaming agent. Interpenetrating networks of polymer chains comprised of primary polymer(s) and strengthening polymer(s) are thereby formed. The primary polymer affords capillary-based water sorption properties while the strengthening polymer imparts significantly enhanced mechanical strength and elasticity to the hydrogel or superporous hydrogel. Suitable strengthening agents can be natural or synthetic polymers, polyelectrolytes, or neutral, hydrophilic polymers.

Abstract: A solvent exchange method is employed to provide microencapsulated compositions, such as microcapsules of pharmaceutical preparations. The method is based on an exchange of water and a hydrophilic organic solvent, whereby a decline in solvent quality for the organic solvent causes a polymer dissolved therein to be deposited onto an aqueous core. Optimal results are rationalized in terms of a balance of water solubility and surface tension for the organic solvent. In a preferred embodiment, microcapsules of selected drugs are formed by contacting microdroplets of an aqueous solution containing the drug with the organic solvent containing a polymer dissolved therein. A preferred method employs biodegradable poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) dissolved in acetic acid, ethyl acetate, methyl acetate, or ethyl formate, to form a PLGA membrane around an aqueous drug core. The method is particularly attractive for encapsulating protein-based drugs without substantial denaturation.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to compounds effective for increasing the water solubility of poorly soluble drugs. Hydrotropic agents are identified, such as for increasing the solubility of paclitaxel. Polymerizable monomers of the hydrotropic agents are prepared and hydrotropic polymers formed from such monomers are generated. Both the monomers and resulting polymers increase the solubility of poorly soluble drugs. In some cases, the hydrotropic polymers are more effective at increasing solubility at low concentrations relative to a corresponding amount of the hydrotropic agent precursor. Additionally, the hydrotropic polymers (hytrops) can be crosslinked to yield hydrotropic hydrogels (hytrogels) capable of solubilizing a drug. The hytrogels can further be employed to generate micro- and nano-particle suspensions of a poorly soluble drug. The water solubility of paclitaxel can be increased by four orders of magnitude using compounds of the invention.