Sublimable sustained release delivery system and method of making same

1. A matrix biological insert or implant which is a delivery system suitable for sustained release of a biologically active agent within a mammal, said delivery system comprising:

(a) at least one water insoluble sublimable matrix material that converts to vapor at a desired rate over a desired duration in the body of a mammal; and

(b) a biologically active agent dispersed within said sublimable matrix material in an amount of 0.05 to 40% by weight based on a weight of said delivery system sufficient for prolonged treatment of a disease or other pathological condition in said mammal,

wherein said sublimable matrix material has a sublimation enthalpy in a range of from 20 to 100 kJ/mole and is present in an amount of at least 60% by weight based on a weight of said delivery system effective to achieve a sustained release of said active agent in said mammal upon conversion of said sublimable matrix material to said vapor, and

wherein said sublimable matrix material is selected from the group consisting of adamantane, perfluoroadamantane, 1-methyladamantane, perfluoro-1-methyladamantane, tetraisopropylmethane, perfluorotetraisopropylmethane, 2,2,3,3-tetramethylbutane (hexamethylethane), perfluoro-2,2,3,3-tetramethylbutane, perfluoroneopentane, perfluoro-C60fullerene, cubane, perfluorocubane, octamethylcubane, perfluorooctamethylcubane, perfluoromethyladamantane, perfluorotri-tert-butylmethane, perfluorodimethyladamantane, perfluorohexamethylethane, perfluoro-1,3-dimethyladamantane, isocamphane, tricyclene, 1-ethyladamantane,1-methyldiadamantane, perfluorodimethylbicyclo[3.3.1]nonane, diadamantane, perfluorodiadamantane, tri-tert-butylmethane, norbornane, perfluoronorbornane, cyclododecane, perfluorocyclododecane, hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane, perfluoroundecane, perfluorododecane, bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane, tetracycloheptane, tricyclohexane, dimethyl-isopropyl-perhydrophenanthrene, hexamethylprismane, prismane, tetracyclododecane, bicyclo[3.3.3]undecane, 2-methyladamantane, pentacycloundecane, tricyclodecane, bicyclodecane, bicyclo[2.2.2]octane, perfluoro-1,3,5-trimethyladamantane, perfluoro-2,2-dimethyladamantane, perfluorotetracycloheptane, perfluorotricyclohexane, perfluorohexamethylprismane, perfluoroprismane, perfluorotetracyclododecane, perfluorobicyclo[3.3.3]undecane, perfluoro-2-methyladamantane, perfluoropentacycloundecane, perfluorotricyclodecane, perfluorobicyclodecane, perfluorobicyclo[3.3.1]nonane, perfluorobicyclo[2.2.2]octane, perfluorobicyclo[2.2.1]heptane, and mixtures thereof.

2. A matrix biological insert or implant which is a delivery system suitable for sustained release of a biologically active agent within a mammal, said delivery system comprising:

(a) at least one water insoluble sublimable matrix material that converts to vapor at a desired rate over a desired duration in the body of a mammal; and

(b) a biologically active agent dispersed within said sublimable matrix material in an amount of 0.05 to 40% by weight based on a weight of said delivery system sufficient for prolonged treatment of a disease or other pathological condition in said mammal,

wherein said sublimable matrix material has a sublimation enthalpy in a range of from 20 to 100 kJ/mole and is present in an amount of at least 60% by weight based on a weight of said delivery system effective to achieve a sustained release of said active agent in said mammal upon conversion of said sublimable matrix material to said vapor, and

wherein said sublimable matrix material is selected from the group consisting of hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane, cyclododecane, perfluorododecane, perfluorododecane or mixtures thereof.

3. A matrix biological insert or implant that delivers a biologically active agent within a mammal, said insert or implant comprising:

(a) at least one water insoluble sublimable matrix material that converts to vapor at a desired rate over a desired duration in the body of a mammal, wherein said sublimable matrix material is selected from the group consisting of adamantane, perfluoroadamantane, 1-methyladamantane, perfluoro-1-methyladamantane, tetraisopropylmethane, perfluorotetraisopropylmethane, 2,2,3,3-tetramethylbutane (hexamethylethane), perfluoro-2,2,3,3-tetramethylbutane, perfluoroneopentane, perfluoro-C60 fullerene, cubane, perfluorocubane, octamethylcubane, perfluorooctamethylcubane, perfluoromethyladamantane, perfluorotri-tert-butylmethane, perfluorodimethyladamantane, perfluorohexamethylethane, perfluoro-1,3-dimethyladamantane, isocamphane, tricyclene, 1-ethyladamantane, 1-methyldiadamantane, perfluorodimethylbicyclo[3.3.1]nonane, diadamantane, perfluorodiadamantane, tri-tert-butylmethane, norbornane, perfluoronorbornane, cyclododecane, perfluorocyclododecane, hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane, perfluoroundecane, perfluorododecane, bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane, tetracycloheptane, tricyclohexane, dimethyl-isopropyl-perhydrophenanthrene, hexamethylprismane, prismane, tetracyclododecane, bicyclo[3.3.3]undecane, 2-methyladamantane, pentacycloundecane, tricyclodecane, bicyclodecane, bicyclo[2.2.2]octane, perfluoro-1,3,5-trimethyladamantane, perfluoro-2,2-dimethyladamantane, perfluorotetracycloheptane, perfluorotricyclohexane, perfluorohexamethylprismane, perfluoroprismane, perfluorotetracyclododecane, perfluorobicyclo[3.3.3]undecane, perfluoro-2-methyladamantane, perfluoropentacycloundecane, perfluorotricyclodecane, perfluorobicyclodecane, perfluorobicyclo [3.3.1]nonane, perfluorobicyclo[2.2.2]octane, perfluorobicyclo[2.2.1]heptane, and mixtures thereof; and

(b) a biologically active agent dispersed in said sublimable matrix material in an amount of 0.05 to 40% by weight based on a weight of said delivery system sufficient for prolonged treatment of a disease or other pathological condition in a mammal,

wherein said sublimable matrix material has a sublimation enthalpy in a range of from 20 to 100 kJ/mole and is present in an amount of at least 60% by weight based on a weight of said insert or implant effective to achieve a sustained release of said active agent in said mammal upon conversion of said sublimable matrix material to said vapor,

wherein said insert or implant is compressed into a predetermined size and shape, is chemically inert, and is biocompatible.

4. The biological insert or implant of claim 3 wherein said sustained release of said active agent within said mammal occurs for a period of about 7 days.

5. The biological insert or implant of claim 3 further comprising a sublimation rate modifier selected from the group consisting of trimethylacetamide, 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol, neopentylpivalate, perfluorodecalin, tri-tert-butylmethanol, camphor, camphene, neo-pentyl alcohol, hexachloroethane, chlorobutanol, menthol, terpin hydrate, vanillin, ethyl vanillin, 1,3,5-trioxane, naphthalene, phenol, dextran, glycogen, tert-butanol, biodegradable polymers comprised of polylactic acid or copolymers of lactic and glycolic acids, polyorthoesters, or polyanhydrides, microparticles comprised of said biodegradable polymers, fatty acids, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyethyleneglycol, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylic acid, cholesterol and microparticles thereof, triglycerides having a melting point above 37° C., collagen and microparticles thereof, gelatin and microparticles thereof, ethanol, propylene glycol, PEG 400, glycerol, polyglycerol, polysorbates, sucralose, sucralose pentahydrate, and mixtures thereof.

6. The biological insert or implant of claim 3 wherein said predetermined shape of said insert or implant is a disk, a cylinder, a rod, a ring or a pellet.

7. The biological insert or implant of claim 3 wherein said amount of said sublimable matrix material is at least 80% by weight based on the weight of said insert or implant.

8. The biological insert or implant of claim 3 wherein said sustained release of said active agent within said mammal occurs for a period of about 30 days.

9. The biological insert or implant of claim 3 wherein said sustained release of said active agent within said mammal occurs for a period of about 3 months.

10. The biological insert or implant of claim 3 which is a biological implant.