Electrochemically controlled drug delivery by single-layer and bilayer conducting polymers for active wound therapy

Sammanfattning

Chronic wounds cause significant suffering and impose considerable socioeconomic burdens. The development of smart bandages, integrating diagnostic and therapeutic models, holds promise for personalized chronic wound management. However, a challenge lies in the initial high release and passive diffusion of doped drugs, potentially leading to overdosing. Here we compare the potential of single and bilayer polypyrrole polymer structures in terms of passive and initial burst releases of dexamethasone. Controlled drug delivery using a single-layer polymer was achieved with a rate of 436±175 μgh-1cm-2 dexamethasone, almost free from both passive and burst release. This result challenges previous observations of drug delivery and warrants further investigation. Similar measurements with bilayer polymers showed a drug delivery rate that was about 6 times lower than that of the single layer and burst release was observed in this case. During alternating periods of active and passive dexamethasone release from the bilayer conducting polymer the release rate was about 100 times higher during the active release than during the passive state. The findings show potential for reducing both issues of burst release and passive release. However, challenges remain with the release of pyrrole residues from the bilayer system. Further research is therefore needed in order to arrive at controlled drug release in smart bandages