Ceramic Materials as Drug Delivery Systems

Sammanfattning: The aim of this thesis is to evaluate ceramic materials for drug delivery drugs applications. Three delivery routes were investigated; abuse-deterrent oral formulation, inhalation, and novel ceramic crystals with drug entrapped. A geopolymer matrix was developed in order to withstand non-medical abuse such as crushing, snorting, extraction etc. An in vivo study was performed, where oral administration of zolpidem loaded geopolymer pellets was evaluated. The results showed a higher plasma concentration for immediate release formulations compared to the geopolymer, however the geopolymer formulation showed a prolonged release compared to the immediate release control group.  Pulmonary drug delivery offers a fast and non-invasive drug delivery. Releasing fentanyl from calcium sulfate for pulmonary drug delivery were investigated by applying the drug onto the ceramic and heating to 230-250°C for 1-10 minutes. The evaporated drug was collected and quantified which resulted in a total amount of 1.2µg released fentanyl. Synthesis of ceramic materials containing drugs within the crystal structure has been investigated, both calcium carbonate and hydroxyapatite were tested. Hydroxyurea, a cytotoxic drug, was loaded into the crystal structure of calcium carbonate without altering size, crystallinity or morphology of calcite. Furthermore, human breast cancer cells were exposed to the obtained calcium carbonate crystals. The tested showed that pre-dissolved particles have a toxic effect on the cancer cells. Glycine, an amino acids, was entrapped into nano-sized hydroxyapatite by using a precipitation method where the effects of heat and pH was evaluated. The result showed a total of about 16 µg of glycine could be entrapped per milligram of HAp and that higher pH and higher temperature resulted in higher entrapment of the amino acid.