Stability studies of a somatostatin analogue in biodegradable implants

• Published in: International journal of pharmaceutics 1999-02, Vol.178 (2), p.213-221
• Main Authors: Rothen-Weinhold, A., Besseghir, K., Vuaridel, E., Sublet, E., Oudry, N., Gurny, R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Absorbable Implants; Antineoplastic Agents - chemical synthesis; Antineoplastic Agents - chemistry; Antineoplastic Agents - isolation & purification; Biological and medical sciences; Controlled release; Delayed-Action Preparations; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Contamination; Drug Delivery Systems; Gamma Rays; General pharmacology; Implant; Medical sciences; Peptides - chemistry; Pharmaceutical technology. Pharmaceutical industry; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Polylactic acid; Polymers - chemistry; Somatostatin - analogs & derivatives; Somatostatin - chemical synthesis; Somatostatin - chemistry; Somatostatin - isolation & purification; Stability; Temperature; Time Factors; Vapreotide
• ISSN: 0378-5173; 1873-3476
• DOI: 10.1016/S0378-5173(98)00376-7

In recent years, peptides and proteins have received much attention as drug candidates. For many polypeptides, particularly hormones, it is desirable to release the drug continuously at a controlled rate over a period of weeks or even months, and thus a controlled release system is needed. Polylactic acid (PLA) is a biocompatible and biodegradable material with wide utility for many applications, including the design of controlled release systems for pharmaceutical agents. Pharmaceutical development of these delivery systems presents new problems in the area of stability assessment, especially for peptide drugs. In this study, we aimed to investigate the influence of different steps, during the manufacturing of an implant, on peptide stability in the polymeric matrix. Polylactic acid implants containing vapreotide, a somatostatin analogue, were prepared by extrusion. The effects of time, extrusion and temperature on the peptide stability were studied. The influence of various gamma sterilization doses, as well as the conditions under which the implants were irradiated, were also investigated. Peptide stability in the polymeric matrix was evaluated at various temperatures and at various time intervals up to 9 months.