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No more shots?

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From patches to chips, new ways to deliver drugs explored

SAN FRANCISCO, March 27 -- Innovative drug delivery systems could make the hypodermic needle obsolete. They range from medicated powders pumped into the skin at supersonic speeds to implanted microchips that deliver precise dosages to high-tech molecular transportation systems. Research on these devices and others will be the focus of a daylong symposium on new drug delivery systems at the 219th national meeting of the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society. Selected studies are described below.

  • Electronic inhaler targets the bloodstream via the lungs: This handheld device allows precise doses of tiny liquid particles to be inhaled through the mouth. Unlike conventional inhalers, which deliver drugs to the large airways of the lung, this device allows them to enter the bloodstream through the small airways and alveoli (air sacs). It is a faster, more efficient method of drug delivery, the researchers say. The device, currently undergoing Phase II human clinical trials, is especially promising for delivering insulin and administering pain medication, they say. (Igor Gonda, Ph.D., Aradigm Corporation, Hayward, Calif.; MEDI 170, Monday, March 27, 9:10 a.m., Moscone Center, Room 135, Exhibit Level. See page 132 in the final program.)

  • Drugs delivered at supersonic speeds: Imagine having tiny particles delivered painlessly into your skin at speeds up to that of a supersonic jet. That's the concept behind dry powder injection, a unique drug-delivery method that involves placing powdered drugs inside a simple-to-use, handheld device that mechanically launches them through your skin. The device uses pressurized helium instead of a needle to transport medicine. Researchers say it offers great potential benefits for the delivery of small molecules, vaccines and potent biotechnology drugs, and may also serve as a diagnostic tool. (Terry L. Burkoth, Ph.D., PowderJect Pharmaceuticals, Fremont, Calif. MEDI 171, Monday, March 27, 9:50 a.m., Moscone Center, Room 135, Exhibit Level. See page 132 in the final program.)

  • High-tech fat droplets: High-tech fat droplets, known as liposomes, can encapsulate hard-to-deliver medications and successfully carry them to their targets. They are especially promising for delivering vaccines and gene-therapy molecules, the researchers say. They recently created a "smart" fat droplet fitted with special molecules that allow it to attach to specific cells, thereby delivering the encapsulated drug to precise locations. (Robert N. Brey, Ph.D., Endorex Corporation, Lake Forest, Ill.; MEDI 172, Monday, March 27, 10:30 a.m., Moscone Center, Room 135, Exhibit Level. See page 132 in the final program.)

  • Pharmacy on a chip: In response to a controlled electrical signal, dime-sized microchips send medications to their target destination. Unlike patches and many polymeric implants, which send medicine continuously, these silicon-based devices can deliver drugs in precise amounts at specific times. Also known as controlled-release microchips, these pharmacies on a chip are part of a new wave of nanotechnology that is transforming modern medicine. The chips are slated for preclinical trials. (John T. Santini, Jr., Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass.; MEDI 174, Monday, March 27, 1:01 p.m., Moscone Center, Rooms 130/131. See page 132 in the final program.)

  • Painless microneedles: A tiny platter of microscopic needles -- each no wider than the diameter of a human hair -- delivers medication through the skin without causing pain. The reason: the hollow needles are so small they cannot reach the skin's nerve cells. Researchers say the device can even be fitted with microelectronics to control the time and dosage of medicine delivered. The researchers believe the device may be especially useful for delivering large molecules such as insulin. A prototype device containing insulin significantly reduced glucose levels in preclinical studies of diabetic rats, they say. (Mark R. Prausnitz, Ph.D., Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Ga.; MEDI 176, Monday, March 27, 2:10 p.m., Moscone Center, Rooms 130/131. See page 132 in the final program.)

  • Cutting-edge technology: Macroflux® is a small array of microscopic blades that can be attached to an electronic skin patch. The microblades cut through the skin's outer dead surface, forming tiny slits that allow medicine to be delivered locally or systemically without drawing blood and without pain. In turn, the microslits allow large molecules to enter the skin and travel to their target. This truly "cutting-edge" device succeeded in delivering therapeutic doses of insulin and lowering levels of glucose in a small group of non-diabetic volunteers. (Peter E. Daddona, Ph.D., ALZA Corporation, Mountain View, Calif.; MEDI 179, Monday, March 27, 4:10 p.m., Moscone Center, Rooms 130/131. See page 132 in the final program.)

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A nonprofit organization with a membership of 161,000 chemists and chemical engineers, the American Chemical Society www.acs.org publishes scientific journals and databases, convenes major research conferences, and provides educational, science policy and career programs in chemistry. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.


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