Minimizing side effects: Queen’s Scientists report new drug delivery system

Dr Colin P. McCoy and colleagues from the School of Pharmacy at Queen’s describe their new molecular-scale dosing devices as “a new paradigm for precise control of drug dosing using light.”

The devices consist of medications combined with certain chemical compounds that respond to light in ways that release precisely controlled amounts of the drug. Drug release begins when light falls on the compounds, and lasts only as long as the light continues to shine.

Their study, which is reported in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, showed successful laboratory tests of the system in the controlled release of three common medications used to treat pain and inflammation — aspirin, ibuprofen and ketoprofen.

Explaining some of the potential uses for the new method, Dr McCoy said: “One potential use we cited in the study would be in the treatment of urinary catheter infections, where the drug is held latently in the catheter, and is released when needed using light from a fibre optic. The system could likewise be used for other conditions using an implant under the skin for precisely controlled drug dosing.”