• Mathew, Essyrose
• Lamprou, Dimitrios A.
• Haddow, Oisin

Abstract

Objectives<br/>There is a requirement within ear therapeutics for a delivery system capable of safely delivering controlled doses to the inner ear. However, the anatomy and sensitivity of the inner ear make current delivery systems problematic and often ineffective. Therefore, a new delivery system is required to overcome these issues and provide a more efficacious system in the treatment of inner ear disease. This study assesses the potential of 3D printing (3DP) as a fabrication method for an implantable drug delivery system (DDS) to the inner ear.<br/><br/>Key findings<br/>Three implantable designs of varying geometry were produced with fused deposition modelling (FDM) 3DP, each loaded with 0.25%, 0.5% and 1% levofloxacin; filaments prepared by hot-melt extrusion. Each implant was effective in providing sustained, therapeutic release of levofloxacin for at least 4 days and as such would be effective in therapeutic treatment of many common inner ear diseases, such as otitis media or Ménière’s disease.<br/><br/>Conclusions<br/>This proof-of-concept research was successful in utilising FDM as a fabrication method for a DDS capable of providing prolonged release directly to the inner ear and highlights the viability of 3DP in the fabrication of an inner ear DDS.<br/><br/>

Topics

• Deposition
• impedance spectroscopy
• melt
• melt extrusion