EFFECTS OF POLYMER FORMULATION ON ELECTROPHORETIC DRUG DELIVERY

A controlled drug delivery device based on the principle of electropho resis is described in this paper. A model system using propranolol HCl and PHEMA films is used to demonstrate how control over the release o f a model drug may be achieved using low constant electric currents. P olymer formulation is shown to be important, highly crosslinked polyme r producing a different effect to low crosslinked polymer. The model i s used to demonstrate the low power requirements for control over drug transport and indicates the feasibility of using an electrophoretical ly controlled drug delivery device to provide truly controllable and p redictable release rates.