Background

Advanced drug delivery systems – such as biodegradable injectable formulations – can enhance treatment results by improving the effectiveness of therapy, reducing toxicity, and boosting patient adherence. However, many of these drug delivery strategies still release drugs too rapidly, reducing therapeutic longevity; furthermore, many current strategies are not compatible with emerging biologics/drugs. Therefore, new drug delivery vehicles that allow precise control over drug release, including hydrophilic or biologic-based drugs, are needed.

Technology Overview

Researchers at McMaster have developed an ultrasound-triggered cork-shell capsule/particle drug delivery system that can control the release kinetics of therapeutic drugs without causing cellular damage. This capsule is composed of a complex shell component that holds the therapeutic payload and incorporates “cork” particles that can be