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A new method for targeted drug delivery using polymeric microcapsules

Implications for treatment of crohn's disease

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Abstract

Recent research and clinical evidence suggest that thalidomide could potentially be used to treat inflammation associated with Crohn's disease. However, systemic side effects associated with large doses of this drug have limited its widespread use. Treatment, with thalidomide would prove more efficacious if the drug could be delivered directly to target areas in the gut, thereby reducing systemic circulation. Microcapsule encapsulation could enable direct delivery of the drug. To assess the latter, we designed and tested drug-targeting release characteristics of alginate-poly-l-lysine-alginate (APA) microcapsules in simulated gastrointestinal environments. The results show that APA capsules enabled delivery of thalidomide in the middle and distal portions of the small intestine. We also compared the APA membrane formulation with an earlier designed alginate chitosan (AC) membrane thalidomide formulation. The results show that both APA and AC capsules allow for successful delivery of thalidomide in the gut and could prove beneficial in the treatment of Crohn's disease. However, further research is required.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biomedical Technology and Cell Therapy Research Laboratory Department of Biomedical Engineering and Physiology, Artificial Cells & Organs Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, 3775 University Street, H3A 2B4, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

    Terrence Metz, Mitchell L. Jones, Hongmei Chen, Trisnawati Halim, Maryam Mirzaei, Tasima Haque & Satya Prakash

  2. Sainte-Justine Hospital, University of Montreal, 3175, Cote-Sainte-Catherine, H3T 1C5, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

    Devendra Amre

  3. Division of Endocrinology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology The N.Y. Hospital, Cornell University Medical Center, 10021, New York, NY

    Sujata K. Das

Authors
  1. Terrence Metz
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  2. Mitchell L. Jones
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  3. Hongmei Chen
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  4. Trisnawati Halim
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  5. Maryam Mirzaei
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  6. Tasima Haque
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  7. Devendra Amre
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  8. Sujata K. Das
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  9. Satya Prakash
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Satya Prakash.

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Metz, T., Jones, M.L., Chen, H. et al. A new method for targeted drug delivery using polymeric microcapsules. Cell Biochem Biophys 43, 77–85 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1385/CBB:43:1:077

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