Technological advancements in drug eluting products offer medical device manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies the opportunity to develop smaller, less invasive, and more effective products. Silicone materials provide many advantages and are commonly used in drug delivery applications, but alternative polymer excipients can also provide distinct advantages.

Applications

  • Female Healthcare
  • Implantable Drug Delivery Forms
  • Ophthalmic Devices
  • Wound Care
  • Steroidal Collars
  • Pacemaker Leads
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    Different LSR Part

    Silicone

    Silicone is extremely versatile and delivers unmatched biocompatibility, making ideal for use in a broad range of applications.

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    Resources

    Introducing APIs to Silicone

    Adding an API to Raw Silicone

    Introducing an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) into silicone usually involves the combination of Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR) with an API before fabrication into a silicone part. The API combines with both parts of the raw silicone just before manufacturing it into its final form via extrusion, molding, or sheeting processes.

     

    Impregnating Vulcanized Silicone with an API

    Another method of introducing an active pharmaceutical ingredient to silicone is to immerse a finished silicone part in a drug-loaded solvent, which causes swelling and allows the API to impregnate the silicone matrix.

     

    Membrane-Controlled Elution Rates

    Using a silicone membrane also enables manufacturers to control the elution rate. A commonly used method is to apply a membrane, such as an extruded silicone tube, to a drug-loaded core to modulate its release profile.

    Advantages of API Elution

    • Controlled release of an API enables a consistent concentration of the drug, in contrast to bolus-style delivery which fluctuates within the therapeutic range.
    • Implanted targeted drug delivery systems can provide a targeted release of pharmaceutical ingredients to a specific site within the body.
    • As opposed to systemic administration, controlled drug delivery systems allow for longer-term dosages while minimizing adverse side effects. 
    • Combination products can offer significant advantages when patient compliance is a high-risk element of other existing therapies on the market.
    • Patient’s quality of life can be improved by minimizing the effort they have to put in to manage a condition that is particularly high maintenance. 
    • Lowered dosage requirements may be possible through targeted drug delivery systems.
    • Simplified treatment regimens lead to fewer visits to the practitioner, relieving the strain on health services.