Scientists are Developing a Drug Delivery Implant for HIV Treatment

• New research is developing innovative ways of administering drugs into the organism.
• This particular research endeavor looks at how we can improve the treatment and prevention of HIV.
• Scientists choose to work with antiretroviral medication because of the nature of its intake. Since the medication intake is done daily and at regular intervals, this often presents a problem for patients.
• The new development may change the problem as it is a form of self-administering medication. Not only that but the implant can combine several medications and deliver them together. Also, the current research shows it has a lasting effect on the organism.

About the Research

This new technique for HIV treatment comes from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. This team of researchers wants to find a safe alternative to daily medication intake that would get the approval of the FDA. Their current findings are in the journal Nature and Communication.

HIV Treatment and Drug Delivery

Before this study, little research about antiretroviral treatment and drug administering practices exists. Furthermore, because this type of medication requires daily intake it often creates problems for patients. Mostly because of the regular time frame of the drug intake that the patient has to follow. Because of this, scientists want to develop a safe and long-lasting injection that can replace daily drug intake. Through this development, they could help alleviate the current problems with antiretroviral medication.

This ingenious medicine-administering technique consists out of three parts. Those parts are a polymer, organic solvent, and the drug or drugs. Once they come into the body the solvent disappears and the polymer and drugs stay behind. As they are harder in composition, they have the ability to slowly release the medication through an extensive period.

The preliminary testing of the drug delivery implant shows that it is effective for the administering of six antiretroviral drugs. Not only that, but the implants have a life span between one month and a year. This is why they are useful for medication that has to be taken daily. Also, the scientists working on this research project believe the technique can be adapted for HIV prevention drugs as well.

Related news: Thermo-Responsive Protein Hydrogel Expected to Revolutionize Medical Treatment.

Limitation

• This drug delivery system needs to go through testing before it can come on the market.

Sources

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-09/uonc-lim092019.php

http://news.unchealthcare.org/news/2019/september/long-acting-injectable-multi-drug-implant-shows-promise-for-hiv-prevention-and-treatment