Effects of Polymer Blending on the Performance of a Subcutaneous Biodegradable Implant for HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP).

ABSTRACT: Long-acting (LA) HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) can mitigate challenges of adhering to daily or on-demand regimens of antiretrovirals (ARVs). We are developing a subcutaneous implant comprising polycaprolactone (PCL) for sustained delivery of ARVs for PrEP. Here we use tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) as a model drug. Previously, we demonstrated that the release rates of drugs are controlled by the implant surface area and wall thickness, and the molecular weight (MW) of PCL. Here, we further advance the implant design and tailor the release rates of TAF and the mechanical integrity of the implant through unique polymer blend formulations. In vitro release of TAF from the implant exhibited zero-order release kinetics for ~120 days. TAF release rates were readily controlled via the MW of th

SUBMITTER: Li L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8235439 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature