An electrically modulated drug delivery device: I.

A controlled drug delivery device based on the principle of electrophoresis is described. A model system using propranolol HCl and PHEMA films was used to demonstrate how control over the release of a model drug may be achieved using low constant electric currents. It was found that a linear relationship existed between electric current and drug delivery rate. Additionally, two main effects of applying an electric current during the lag period of delivery from the system were identified. First, the drug delivery rate was less when a current was applied before the lag period had expired, and second, the voltage-time profiles were found to be significantly different. The model shows the feasibility of using an electrophoretically controlled drug delivery device to provide truly controllable and predictable release rates.