A novel approach to administration of peptides in women: Systemic absorption of a GnRH agonist via transvaginal ring delivery system
trans-Epithelial delivery of medication across the vagina has proven successful for administration of small, lipophilic molecules such as sex steroids. However, little information is available regarding the vaginal delivery of larger and more polar molecules that currently require parenteral adminis...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier BV
2020
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| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/125758 |
| _version_ | 1811091353451364352 |
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| author | Kimball, A.B. Javorsky, E. Ron, E.S. Crowley, , W. Langer, Robert S |
| author2 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Biological Engineering |
| author_facet | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Biological Engineering Kimball, A.B. Javorsky, E. Ron, E.S. Crowley, , W. Langer, Robert S |
| author_sort | Kimball, A.B. |
| collection | MIT |
| description | trans-Epithelial delivery of medication across the vagina has proven successful for administration of small, lipophilic molecules such as sex steroids. However, little information is available regarding the vaginal delivery of larger and more polar molecules that currently require parenteral administration because the vaginal epithelium is perceived as a barrier to absorption of larger molecular weight (MW) molecules. Six healthy women underwent administration of 18 or 36 mg of leuprolide, a GnRH agonist and a larger MW peptide, via a novel ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) ring transvaginal drug delivery system (TVDS). Serum levels rose within 8 h following insertion: low dose at 310 pg/ml and high dose at 1220 pg/ml, i.e. levels typically following parenteral injections of leuprolide. GnRHa biological activity was validated by secretion of gonadotropins and sex steroids. These results demonstrate that the non-keratinized vaginal epithelium permits a rapid absorption of a biologically active peptide and that there is significant potential for a novel TVDS to deliver peptides and possibly other macromolecules therapeutically. Significance statement Current routes of administration of medications can include oral, subcutaneous, intravenous, intramuscular, transcutaneous, etc. Many of these approaches have limitations, including pain, poor tolerability, lack of adherence, and inadequate delivery. Peptides, in particular, cannot typically be given orally because they are broken down in the intestinal tract before they are absorbed. While the skin is an attractive way to deliver medications, its superb intrinsic barrier function often makes this route untenable at times. The vaginal epithelium, in contrast, is not keratinized and can allow absorption of other molecules. In this study, we demonstrate that a novel transvaginal drug delivery system (TVDS) is capable of delivering peptide therapeutics to women in a non-parenteral fashion as demonstrated by both blood levels and biologic effects of its delivery. Keywords: Intravaginal Ring; EVA; GnRH Agonist; Peptide; Phase 1; Transepithelial |
| first_indexed | 2024-09-23T15:01:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | mit-1721.1/125758 |
| institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-09-23T15:01:08Z |
| publishDate | 2020 |
| publisher | Elsevier BV |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | mit-1721.1/1257582022-10-02T00:01:18Z A novel approach to administration of peptides in women: Systemic absorption of a GnRH agonist via transvaginal ring delivery system Kimball, A.B. Javorsky, E. Ron, E.S. Crowley, , W. Langer, Robert S Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Biological Engineering trans-Epithelial delivery of medication across the vagina has proven successful for administration of small, lipophilic molecules such as sex steroids. However, little information is available regarding the vaginal delivery of larger and more polar molecules that currently require parenteral administration because the vaginal epithelium is perceived as a barrier to absorption of larger molecular weight (MW) molecules. Six healthy women underwent administration of 18 or 36 mg of leuprolide, a GnRH agonist and a larger MW peptide, via a novel ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) ring transvaginal drug delivery system (TVDS). Serum levels rose within 8 h following insertion: low dose at 310 pg/ml and high dose at 1220 pg/ml, i.e. levels typically following parenteral injections of leuprolide. GnRHa biological activity was validated by secretion of gonadotropins and sex steroids. These results demonstrate that the non-keratinized vaginal epithelium permits a rapid absorption of a biologically active peptide and that there is significant potential for a novel TVDS to deliver peptides and possibly other macromolecules therapeutically. Significance statement Current routes of administration of medications can include oral, subcutaneous, intravenous, intramuscular, transcutaneous, etc. Many of these approaches have limitations, including pain, poor tolerability, lack of adherence, and inadequate delivery. Peptides, in particular, cannot typically be given orally because they are broken down in the intestinal tract before they are absorbed. While the skin is an attractive way to deliver medications, its superb intrinsic barrier function often makes this route untenable at times. The vaginal epithelium, in contrast, is not keratinized and can allow absorption of other molecules. In this study, we demonstrate that a novel transvaginal drug delivery system (TVDS) is capable of delivering peptide therapeutics to women in a non-parenteral fashion as demonstrated by both blood levels and biologic effects of its delivery. Keywords: Intravaginal Ring; EVA; GnRH Agonist; Peptide; Phase 1; Transepithelial 2020-06-11T12:44:22Z 2020-06-11T12:44:22Z 2016-04 2016-04 2019-09-05T17:33:42Z Article http://purl.org/eprint/type/JournalArticle 0168-3659 https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/125758 Kimball, A.B. et al., "A novel approach to administration of peptides in women: Systemic absorption of a GnRH agonist via transvaginal ring delivery system." Journal of Controlled Release 233, 10 (July 2016): 19-28 © 2016 The Author(s). en https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2016.04.035 Journal of Controlled Release Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ application/pdf Elsevier BV PMC |
| spellingShingle | Kimball, A.B. Javorsky, E. Ron, E.S. Crowley, , W. Langer, Robert S A novel approach to administration of peptides in women: Systemic absorption of a GnRH agonist via transvaginal ring delivery system |
| title | A novel approach to administration of peptides in women: Systemic absorption of a GnRH agonist via transvaginal ring delivery system |
| title_full | A novel approach to administration of peptides in women: Systemic absorption of a GnRH agonist via transvaginal ring delivery system |
| title_fullStr | A novel approach to administration of peptides in women: Systemic absorption of a GnRH agonist via transvaginal ring delivery system |
| title_full_unstemmed | A novel approach to administration of peptides in women: Systemic absorption of a GnRH agonist via transvaginal ring delivery system |
| title_short | A novel approach to administration of peptides in women: Systemic absorption of a GnRH agonist via transvaginal ring delivery system |
| title_sort | novel approach to administration of peptides in women systemic absorption of a gnrh agonist via transvaginal ring delivery system |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/125758 |
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