Abstract: Systems and methods for treating diseases, addictions and disorders in humans and animals involving synchronizing and tailoring the administration of drug compounds with the body's natural circadian rhythms, in order to counteract symptoms when they are likely to be at their worst. Automated and pre programmable transdermal drug administration system are used. This system can also utilize a pump or pressurized reservoir, and/or a system for removing depleted carrier solution, or other modulated dispensing actuator, in conjunction with micro-fabricated structures commonly referred to as Micro-needles, or heat, or iontophoresis, sonophoresis, or a wide range of chemical permeation enhancers.

Abstract: A method for synthetizing polyanhydrides in solution using coupling agents and a removable acid acceptor to effect a one-step polymerization of dicarboxylic acids. As used in the method, these coupling agents include phosgene, diphosgene, and acid chlorides. Insoluble acid acceptors include insoluble polyamines and crosslinked polyamines such as polyethyleneimine and polyvinylpyridine and inorganic bases such as K.sub.2 CO.sub.3, Na.sub.2 CO.sub.3, NaHCO.sub.3, and CaCO.sub.3. The only byproduct formed is a removable hydrochloric acid-acid acceptor.Examples are provided of the polymerization of highly pure polyanhydrides using phosgene, diphosgene or an acid chloride as the coupling agent, in combination with either an insoluble acid acceptor or a soluble acid acceptor in a solvent wherein the polymerizaiton byproduct or polymer is insoluble.A particularly important application of these polyanhydrides is in the formation of drug delivery devices containing bioactive compounds.

Abstract: A method for synthesizing polyanhydrides in solution using coupling agents and a removable acid acceptor to effect a one-step polymerization of dicarboxylic acids. As used in the method, these coupling agents include phosgene, diphosgene, and acid chlorides. Insoluble acid acceptors include insoluble polyamines and crosslinked polyamines such as polyethyleneimine and polyvinylpyridine and inorganic bases such as K.sub.2 CO.sub.3, Na.sub.2 CO.sub.3, NaHCO.sub.3, and CaCO.sub.3. The only byproduct formed is a removable hydrochloric acid-acid acceptor.Examples are provided of the polymerization of highly pure polyanhydrides using phosgene, diphosgene or an acid chloride as the coupling agent, in combination with either an insoluble acid acceptor or a soluble acid acceptor in a solvent wherein the polymerization byproduct or polymer is insoluble.A particularly important application of these polyanhydrides is in the formation of drug delivery devices containing bioactive compounds.