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Bioengineering breakthroughs drive drug delivery technologies
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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Innovations in bioengineering continuously spur the development of new drug delivery and reconstructive methods, a prominent researcher said here.
Advances may lead to regeneration of virtually any tissue in the human body, Robert S. Langer, PhD, said during the keynote lecture at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology meeting.
"We've got a long, long way to go," Dr. Langer said. "This is just the tip of the iceberg, but it is my hope that as people in this audience and others move forward on research like this, that it will lead to a variety of new therapies that will relieve suffering and prolong life."
In 1976, Dr. Langer and Judah Folkman, MD, a pioneer in anti-angiogenic research, devised a polymer material that released an angiogenic inhibitor. The agent thwarted neovascularization and stunted the growth of tumors in rabbit corneas. The research bore fruit when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the anti-VEGF agents Macugen (pegaptanib sodium solution, Eyetech/Pfizer) in 2004 and Lucentis (ranibizumab, Genentech) in 2006, Dr. Langer said.
Researchers' main dilemma was designing polymers that could elute large bioactive molecules. Porous polymers enable timed and controlled elution of almost any bioactive molecule, regardless of its size, Dr. Langer said.
"These pores are large enough so that molecules, even millions of molecular weight, can get through," he said.
Newer technologies show promise. For example, a prototype microchip device comprises tiny pockets or drug reservoirs. The application of an electrode dissolves a gold coating on the chip, allowing the agent to elute in a timed and controlled way, Dr. Langer said. The chip may have applications in retinal drug delivery.
A physician-controlled retinal drug delivery technology involves an implant with sealed drug reservoirs. The targeted application of an ophthalmic laser opens the well to allow the release of the respective drug into the eye, Dr. Langer said.
Researchers are currently developing biodegradable polymers for tissue engineering and scaffolding techniques to fabricate new blood vessels, cartilage, skin and nerve tissue, he said.
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