James R Stegman, Jill K Badin, Kaitlyn A Biles, Thamar Etienne, Sogand Fartash-Naini, Ariel D Gordon, Zachary W Greeley, Benjamin W Harding, Ricardo J Mack, Danielle Masica, Ashley N Nelson, Amandeep K Samra, Sarah E Smith, Gabrielle P Thomas, Haley J Zack, Timothy J Brunker, Barry J Margulies
Treatment for herpes simplex virus-1 and -2 (HSV-1 and -2) patients who suffer from recurrent outbreaks consists of multiple daily doses of the antiviral drugs acyclovir (ACV), penciclovir, or their more orally bioavailable derivatives valacyclovir or famciclovir. Drug troughs caused by missed doses may result in viral replication, which can generate drug-resistant mutants along with clinical sequelae. We developed a molecularly homogeneous mixture of ACV with the bioerodable polymer polycaprolactone. Through scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, 1H NMR, and differential scanning calorimetry, our method of combining drug and polymer, termed Volatile Acid-Solvent Evaporation (VASE), does not compromise the integrity of polymer or drug...
2018: Journal of Drug Delivery