Long term drug delivery devices with polyurethane-based polymers and their manufacture

Abstract

This invention is related to the use of polyurethane-based polymer as a drug delivery device to deliver biologically active compounds at a constant rate for an extended period of time and methods of manufactures thereof. The device is very biocompatible and biostable, and is useful as an implant in patients (humans and animals) for the delivery of appropriate bioactive substances to tissues or organs.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An implantable drug delivery device, comprising a polyurethane-based polymer having polyether-based polyol segments represented by the formula —[O—(CH 2 ) n ] x —O—, said polyurethane-based polymer configured to provide a cylindrically shaped reservoir, wherein the reservoir is sealed after being charged with an effective amount of solid formulation comprising an active agent and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, such that the release of the active agent at a substantially zero order rate in vitro by diffusion through the polyurethane-based polymer generally increases as the equilibrium water content (% EWC) of the polymer increases, wherein the active agent is histrelin, risperidone, dexamethasone, naltrexone, metolazone, clonidine, or selegiline. 
     
     
         2 . The drug delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the active agent is histrelin. 
     
     
         3 . The drug delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the active agent is risperidone. 
     
     
         4 . The drug delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the active agent is dexamethasone. 
     
     
         5 . The drug delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the active agent is naltrexone. 
     
     
         6 . The drug delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the active agent is metolazone. 
     
     
         7 . The drug delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the active agent is clonidine. 
     
     
         8 . The drug delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the active agent is selegiline. 
     
     
         9 . The drug delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the polyurethane-based polymer has a % EWC of between about 5%-43%. 
     
     
         10 . The drug delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers is selected from the group consisting of croscarmellose, stearic acid, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The drug delivery device of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers are croscarmellose and stearic acid. 
     
     
         12 . The drug delivery device of  claim 11 , wherein the croscarmellose comprises 10% of the solid drug formulation, and stearic acid comprises 2% of the solid drug formulation. 
     
     
         13 . The drug delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir has a wall thickness of 0.2 mm. 
     
     
         14 . A method of delivering an active agent to a subject, comprising implanting an implantable device into the subject, wherein the implantable device comprises a polyurethane-based polymer having polyether-based polyol segments represented by the formula —[O—(CH 2 ) n ] x —O—, said polyurethane-based polymer configured to provide a cylindrically shaped reservoir, wherein the reservoir is sealed after being charged with an effective amount of solid formulation comprising an active agent and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, such that the release of the active agent at a substantially zero order rate in vitro by diffusion through the polyurethane-based polymer generally increases as the equilibrium water content (% EWC) of the polymer increases, wherein the active agent is histrelin, risperidone, dexamethasone, naltrexone, metolazone, clonidine, or selegiline. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the active agent is risperidone. 
     
     
         17 - 42 . (canceled)