RESUMO
Remote controlled capsule (RCC) has been extensively used in the field of site-specific drug delivery. It is a potent tool to study the regional drug absorption of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract that provides pharmaceutical scientists with significant pharmacokinetics data for oral drug formulation development. In present investigations, a patented novel RCC has been devised based on micro-electronic mechanical system (MEMS) technology. Micro-thrusters were for the first time exploited as drug release actuators of RCCs. As the micro-thruster is ignited by a radio frequency (RF) signal, the thrust force generated by the propellants pushes the piston forward and leads to a rapid and complete expulsion of therapeutic agents from the capsule. The micro-thruster merely consumes 120 mW for ignition and the duration time of drug release is decreased to less than 1 s. The feasibility of the novel RCC was evaluated through animal experiments in beagles using aminophylline as the model drug. The novel RCC developed is a promising alternative for site-specific drug delivery in human GI tract.
Assuntos
Aminofilina/administração & dosagem , Sistemas de Liberação de Medicamentos , Trato Gastrointestinal/metabolismo , Sistemas Microeletromecânicos , Robótica , Tecnologia Farmacêutica/métodos , Administração Oral , Aminofilina/farmacocinética , Animais , Cápsulas , Cães , Sistemas de Liberação de Medicamentos/instrumentação , Desenho de Equipamento , Estudos de Viabilidade , Humanos , Absorção Intestinal , Sistemas Microeletromecânicos/instrumentação , Projetos Piloto , Robótica/instrumentação , Solubilidade , Tecnologia Farmacêutica/instrumentaçãoRESUMO
Remote Controlled Capsule (RCC) is a new method to realize non-invasive drug delivery to the selected sites of human gastro-intestinal (GI) tract. With RCC, Human Drug Absorption (HDA) studies are taken easily to obtain data on the intestinal absorption of a drug in humans. In this paper, a new RCC system has been designed based on MEMS technology to provide for the delivery of a wide range of different drug formulations, for example, solution, powder and granulate, into any region of the gut. A magnetic Marker Monitoring (MMM) system was developed to monitor the location of the capsule inside the gut. A novel method to indicating the drug release, called as Indicating System based on Abrupt Movement of Marker (ISAMM), was proposed in this study. High reliability of the RCC system has been proved by animal experiments.