Long acting injectables (LAIs) are a crucial strategy for providing consistent drug delivery to patients with less frequent dosing. However, studying in vivo release profiles of LAIs over multiple months is time-consuming and costly. We present here a performance characterization paradigm leveraging high-resolution X-ray microscopy to non-invasively image administered LAI depots within tissue. Imaging within tissue allows for analysis that is maximally biorelevant while also ensuring the ability to obtain maximal image quality. High-resolution imaging studies reveal critical details of depot morphology and tissue localization. Depot microstructural details are used to generate dissolution simulations comparing the release of on-body injector vs. manually administered depots. Combining high resolution ex vivo tissue imaging and analysis with in silico techniques allows for the rapid comparison of LAI depot release profiles, which can reduce the amount of pharmacokinetic studies needed.
Learning Objectives:
...qualitatively describe differences between on-body injector and manual injection depots.
...list quantifiable microstructural attributes of the depots.
...understand what parameters affect release simulation results.
