Drug Delivery Composition Comprising a Self-Assembled Gelator

Abstract

This invention discloses drug-delivery compositions, methods of making prodrugs, and methods of drug delivery using a self-assembled gelator. The backbone of the gelator can contain a drug or prodrug, such as acetaminophen or salicin. Additional drugs or agents can be encapsulated in the gelator. Enzymatic or hydrolytic cleavage can be used to release the drugs.

1 . A drug-delivery composition, comprising a drug-derived gelator capable of self assembly, wherein the backbone of the gelator contains a drug a derivative thereof and which drug can be released upon a stimuli. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the stimuli is enzyme-mediated degradation or hydrolytic cleavage. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the stimuli is of biological origin. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the biological origin is inflammation. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is a hydrogel. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is self-assembling. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the drug-derived gelator is a self-assembled gelator. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein the gelator is a hydrogel or an organogelator. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the backbone of the drug-derived gelator contains the drug or a derivative thereof, a hydrophobic moiety, and a degradable link between the drug and the hydrophobic moiety. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the drug is a hydrophobic drug or hydrophilic drug. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein backbone of the drug-derived gelator comprises at a hydrophobic drug and a hydrophilic moiety. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the drug-derived gelator comprises a hydrophilic drug and a hydrophobic moiety. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein the drug-derived gelator is a drug derived, self-assembled gelator. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein the hydrophobic moiety is a polymethylene chain or an aromatic group. 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein the degradable link is an ester, amide, anhydride, or carbamate linkage that is cleavable upon contact with an enzyme and/or through hydrolysis. 
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the stimuli is temperature, pH, ultrasound, metal ions, light, electrical stimuli, electromagnetic stimuli, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the gelator is the esterification reaction product of the drug and a C 1-22  carboxylic acid. 
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 17 , wherein the carboxylic acid contains saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon chains. 
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the drug contains a phenol ring and a terminal hydroxyl group, and wherein the drug is capable of undergoing self assembly upon esterification with a fatty acid or dicarboxylic acid. 
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the drug contains one or more functional groups that promote self-assembly through pi-pi stacking, hydrogen-bonding and/or van der Waals interactions. 
     
     
         21 .- 166 . (canceled)