We tested a novel neurocatheter in a brain-tissue gel model of drug infusion via convection-enhanced delivery (CED) for the treatment of a variety of neurological diseases. CED is an alternative to systemic administration of agents by intravenous or oral routes, which are often less effective or carry risk of systemic side effects. We investigated two co-axial tube devices, with outer diameters of 1.6 mm and 2.0 mm. Bromophenol blue dye was infused into 400 ml of 0.6% agarose gel at 1 μl/min for 1 h, with/without the inner and outer tubes Luer-locked at the proximal end, with/without the inner tube primed, and with/without the inner tube preloaded into the outer tube upon insertion into the gel. The unlocked, primed, and unloaded configuration produced infusions that resulted in significantly less (p < 0.05) entrapped air escaping into the gel and resulted in no reflux of infusate.

The oral route is increasingly being used for the delivery of therapeutic agents because the low cost of the therapy and ease of administration lead to high level of patient compliances. Floating drug delivery system (FDDS) float in the gastric fluid and prolong GRT to obtain sufficient drug bioavailability, because of their lower bulk density compared to that of the aqueous medium. The aim of the present study is to prepare floating tablets as a delivery system for controlled release of Ketoconazole. Ketoconazole is a drug of choice in antifungal category and gives significant result. Floating tablets containing Ketoconazole were prepared by direct compression technique using varying concentrations of different grades of polymers of Hydrxy Propyl Cellulose & Xanthan gum. To evaluate the prepared floating tablets for various parameters like hardness, friability, uniformity of drug content, in-vitro floating studies, in-vitro dissolution studies.

We have tested prototypes of a novel coaxial tube catheter in an in vitro gel model of cell delivery into the brain. Devices 1.6 and 2.0 mm outer diameter were used to deliver PC 12 cells (concentration = 10⁶ cells ml⁻¹ at 1 μl min⁻¹ into a 5 ml sandwich of collagen and 0.1% agarose, with and without follow-on infusions of nerve growth factor (NGF). Post-infusion microscopic imaging (40X) at the infusion sites was then carried out over 7-day periods. The results showed that under these experimental conditions, it was possible to use these catheters to deliver cells without either leakage of trapped air into the gel or reflux of the cell suspension along the catheter insertion track. Differentiation of the NGF-treated cells was observed.

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