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Methotrexate polymer implant for the treatment of head and neck cancer
Author(s) -
Domb Abraham J.,
Wartenfeld Rita
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
polymers for advanced technologies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.61
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1099-1581
pISSN - 1042-7147
DOI - 10.1002/pat.1994.220050918
Subject(s) - materials science , sebacic acid , in vivo , implant , polymer , methotrexate , drug , biomedical engineering , pharmacology , surgery , medicine , polymer chemistry , composite material , biology , microbiology and biotechnology
A biodegradable polymeric device releasing methotrexate (MTX) for the treatment of cancer of the head and neck was evaluated in vitro and in vivo . The polymer used for the preparation of the device was a copolyanhydride based on dimer erucic acid and sebacic acid loaded with 2–20% MTX. The drug was released constantly for about two weeks from small discs (1 × 3 mm) with complete degradation of the polymer when placed in phosphate buffer pH 7.4 at 37°C. The release and degradation rate was similar for all drug loading. MTX‐loaded discs implanted subcutaneously in mice released the drug for about ten days with about 50% elimination of the device from the implantation site. The drug concentration was the highest in the tissue in contact with the device and decreased at distance from the device following a first order kinetics. The LD50 of MTX in polymer when implanted in mice was between 20 and 40 mg per kg. (1994)