A microrobot of which a drug release is controlled by a sound wave applied from outside, and a method of manufacturing the microrobot are disclosed. The method includes mixing and storing magnetic nanoparticles and a drug in a biodegradable resist, and forming a microrobot having a three-dimensional (3D) porous structure at the resist through two-photon polymerization (TPP). The microrobot is formed to control a release rate of the drug stored in the resist by a sound wave applied from the outside.

The invention relates to a biodegradable membrane on the basis of an organic-inorganic hybrid polymer, and to a process for producing same.

The invention provides implantable drug delivery devices comprising a core comprising a polymer (or polymer blend) and one or more drugs or pharmaceutical substances, and an outer shell comprising a polymer (or polymer blend) and one or more porogen materials. The invention reduces burst release of drug. Pharmaceuticals such as triiodothyronine (T3) or ropinirole can be delivered by the devices.

The present invention relates to a method of making a biocompatible micro-swimmer, the method comprising the steps of: providing a photo cross-linkable biopolymer solution; adding magnetic particles and a photo initiator to the photo cross-linkable biopolymer solution to form a 3D-printable solution; applying a laser with a variable focus directed at the 3D-printable solution; varying the focus of the laser through the 3D-printable solution to form the biocompatible micro-swimmer with a predefined shape; and applying a chemical linker to the biocompatible micro-swimmer having the pre-defined shape. The invention further relates to such a micro-swimmer and to a method of using such a micro-swimmer.

Provided are devices that are configured for gastric retention for a period of at least six hours (or at least three hours if the subject is in the fasted state) while maintaining their structural integrity and releasing or holding an active or diagnostic agent into or in gastric fluid of a human subject over that period, as well as methods of delivering an agent over an extended period by orally administering such devices to a subject, uses of an enteric polymer in the formation of devices that deliver an agent over an extended period of time, and methods of making such devices.

The invention concerns an implant material for filling bone defects, bone regeneration and bone tissue engineering, an implant comprising this material, a method for manufacturing such an implant material.

The implant material of the invention comprises a hybrid material doped with an osteoinductive nutrient N comprising: a bioactive glass M made from SiO.sub.2 and CaO, optionally containing P.sub.2O.sub.5 and/or optionally doped with strontium, and a biodegradable polymer P, this hybrid material being doped with an osteoinductive nutrient N.

The invention is applicable, in particular, in the medical field.

A prosthetic polylactide or collagen-containing scaffold material for treating osseous defects and neogenesis of bone, obtained by printing a scaffold composed of strings of polylactide and porous microstructures which allow passage and ingrowth of bone tissue. A soluble mixture of BSP and/or collagen is provided, and BSP and/or collagen is applied onto the strings and in the pores of the printed body to obtain a prosthetic material which induces tissue-directed ingrowth of bone tissue as well as repair and healing of damaged or diseased bone tissues and lesions. The prosthetic material is osseo-inductive and osseo-conductive. The BSP in the prosthetic scaffold material induces a tissue-directed growth of osseous tissue. No undirectional callous or overgrowing bone and cartilage tissue is observed.

An object of the present invention is to provide a microneedle array in which the stability of influenza vaccine during production is satisfactory and the utilization efficiency of the influenza vaccine is high, and a method of producing the same. According to the present invention, provided is a self-dissolving microneedle array including a sheet portion, and a plurality of needle portions which are present on an upper surface of the sheet portion, in which the needle portion contains a saccharide, influenza vaccine, a natural amino acid or a salt thereof, and a surfactant and the influenza vaccine is administered into a body by dissolution of the needle portions.

Geometrically complex intravaginal rings, systems and methods of making the same are provided herein. Disclosed herein are geometrically complex intravaginal rings with tunable and enhanced drug release, which in some embodiments can be fabricated by 3D printing technologies. The disclosed IVRs include a ring structure comprising a plurality of unit cells or macroscopic and/or microscopic architecture, which can be tuned to control the loading capacity of an active compound within the IVR, the diffusion of an active compound from the IVR, the surface area of the IVR, and/or the mechanical properties of the IVR. The disclosed geometrically complex IVRs can provide superior control over drug loading and drug release compared to conventional IVRs fabricated by injection molding or hot-melt extrusion.

A solid dose for insertion into the skin of a patient wherein the solid dose has a hollow core. There is also provided a solid dose carrier, a device, a method of manufacturing the solid dose and a method of delivering a solid dose transdermally to a human or animal.