Thursday, August 28, 2014 9:23:41 AM
August 26, 2014 | By Varun Saxena
Click For fiercedrugdelivery.com Link
Jeffrey Weisman, a doctoral student in Louisiana Tech's biomedical engineering program, uses a 3-D printer to create bioresorbable filaments.--Courtesy of Louisiana Tech University
Researchers at Louisiana Tech University say they have harnessed 3-D printing for drug delivery by fabricating bioresorbable filaments enabling targeted delivery of antibiotics or chemotherapeutics.
"Through the addition of nanoparticles and/or other additives, this technology becomes much more viable using a common 3-D printing material that is already biocompatible. The material can be loaded with antibiotics or other medicinal compounds, and the implant can be naturally broken down by the body over time," Jeffery Weisman, a doctoral student in Louisiana Tech's biomedical engineering program, said in a statement.
Currently, antibiotic implants are made of nonbiodegradable Plexiglas, which contains toxic carcinogenic substances, and require a second surgery for removal, the release says.
3-D printing makes the bioresorbable filament technology practical because it allows for customization and decentralized manufacturing, said Louisiana Tech biomedical engineering professor David Mills in the statement: "Currently, embedding of additives in plastic requires industrial-scale facilities to ensure proper dispersion throughout the extruded plastic. Our method enables dispersion on a tabletop scale, allowing researchers to easily customize additives to the desired levels. There are not even any industrial processes for antibiotics or special drug delivery as injection molding currently focuses more on colorants and cosmetic properties."
Device companies such as Abbott ($ABT) are already selling and/or developing bioresorbable drug-eluting stents. Could bioresorbable drug-eluting catheters or implants be next?
They would certainly be to the industry's benefit. For instance, Titan Pharmaceuticals ($TTNP) and Braeburn Pharmaceuticals are working together to commercialize a clinical stage implant for the treatment of opioid dependence. The product was rejected by FDA in May. One of the FDA's requests for future approval was "human factors testing of the training associated with Probuphine's insertion and removal," according to sister publication FierceBiotech.
In fact, now publicly traded Intersect ENT's dissolvable sinus implant garnered a $30 million Series D funding round in early 2013. It is designed to be placed by a physician during a normal office visit without surgery. The company's implants deliver the corticosteroid mometasone furoate while the device dissolves, keeping the sinus open for up to 30 days in studies.
TRUTH
I've never claimed to have all the answers but feel i'm beginning to corner the market in questions worthy of solutions.
Recent TTNP News
- Form 8-K - Current report • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 01/25/2024 09:33:11 PM
- Titan Pharmaceuticals Fully Compliant With NASDAQ Listing Criteria • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 01/25/2024 09:29:23 PM
- Form 8-K - Current report • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 01/18/2024 09:59:05 PM
- Form 8-K - Current report • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 01/08/2024 10:13:45 PM
- Form 8-K - Current report • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 12/28/2023 09:30:20 PM
- Titan Pharmaceuticals Announces Reverse Stock Split and Ratio • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 12/28/2023 09:15:00 PM
- Form DEF 14A - Other definitive proxy statements • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 11/28/2023 09:47:46 PM
- Form PRE 14A - Other preliminary proxy statements • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 11/17/2023 09:03:19 PM
- Form 8-K - Current report • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 11/15/2023 09:05:15 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 10/26/2023 08:33:07 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 10/26/2023 08:31:25 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 10/26/2023 08:29:31 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 10/26/2023 08:25:57 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 10/26/2023 08:23:37 PM
- Form S-8 - Securities to be offered to employees in employee benefit plans • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 10/24/2023 09:26:34 PM
- Form 3 - Initial statement of beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 10/23/2023 07:07:26 PM
- Form 8-K - Current report • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 10/16/2023 09:08:35 PM
- Titan Pharmaceuticals Announces Appointment of Dato' Seow Gim Shen and Brynner Chaim to the Company's Board of Directors • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 10/16/2023 08:37:23 PM
- Form SC 13D - General statement of acquisition of beneficial ownership • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 10/04/2023 09:30:18 PM
- Form 8-K/A - Current report: [Amend] • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 09/19/2023 08:41:40 PM
- Form 8-K - Current report • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 09/18/2023 08:45:22 PM
- Titan Pharmaceuticals Announces $9.5 Million Private Placement of Convertible Preferred Stock • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 09/18/2023 11:30:00 AM
- Form 8-K - Current report • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 09/08/2023 09:30:03 PM
- Form 8-K - Current report • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 08/30/2023 08:28:25 PM
FEATURED NanoViricides Reports that the Phase I NV-387 Clinical Trial is Completed Successfully and Data Lock is Expected Soon • May 2, 2024 10:07 AM
ILUS Files Form 10-K and Provides Shareholder Update • ILUS • May 2, 2024 8:52 AM
Avant Technologies Names New CEO Following Acquisition of Healthcare Technology and Data Integration Firm • AVAI • May 2, 2024 8:00 AM
Bantec Engaged in a Letter of Intent to Acquire a Small New Jersey Based Manufacturing Company • BANT • May 1, 2024 10:00 AM
Cannabix Technologies to Deliver Breath Logix Alcohol Screening Device to Australia • BLO • Apr 30, 2024 8:53 AM
Hydromer, Inc. Reports Preliminary Unaudited Financial Results for First Quarter 2024 • HYDI • Apr 29, 2024 9:10 AM