Drug delivery
Purified gelatin can enhance drug delivery by protecting the active ingredient and releasing it in a controlled manner. Gelatin’s polyampholytic nature stabilizes various Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), and its biocompatibility and tunable physical properties, allows for a range of delivery systems, from injectable gels to solid implants.
Unique functionalities and properties
Why choose gelatin for drug delivery?
Gelatin’s natural properties make it a crucial resource in regenerative medicine, contributing to the advancement of therapies that repair or regenerate damaged tissues and organs.
Excellent biodegradability
Gelatin, a protein derived from collagen, is naturally degraded by enzymes in the body (metalloproteinases).
No immune response
Gelatin is biocompatible and does not trigger an immune response.
Compatible with multiple APIs
Because gelatin stabilizes proteins and protects cell membranes, it is versatile and can be used with various APIs, RNA, DNA, and biologics.
Versatility in dosage form
Gelatin can be turned into various physical forms—like micro and nano-spheres, gel films, sponges, sheets, shear thinning liquids, putties, pastes, hydrogels, microneedles, and implants—to ensure targeted, controlled release for both large and small molecules.1
Tunable release
By selecting the right gelatin properties and crosslinking parameters, gelatin can be fine-tuned to optimize both drug release and degradation kinetics.
Applications
X-Pure® for drug delivery
Localized or sustained drug delivery involves numerous challenges, influenced by the nature of the API and the desired delivery method. Rousselot’s pharmaceutical-grade gelatin portfolio offers unique properties that make it a suitable carrier for effective drug delivery across a range of applications:
- Microneedles: Customizable, and ensures uniform patch fabrication and scalable production.
- Implants: Tailored for precise control over release rates, texture, dosage, and pharmacokinetics.
- Shear thinning: Allowing easy injection and subsequent fixation of the API at the target location.
- Micro- and submicro-particles: Moldable into various structures for targeted and controlled release
Why X-Pure?
Discover our ultra-pure GMP-grade gelatins for drug delivery
X-Pure® GelMA
One of the most versatile hydrogels for drug delivery, X-Pure GelMA lets you fine-tune rheological properties by adjusting modification levels and molecular weight, delivering unmatched versatility for drug delivery systems.2
X-Pure GelDAT®
A mussel-inspired modified gelatin, X-Pure GelDAT is the world’s first purified gelatin desaminotyrosine, featuring crosslinking cues for stability at 37°C and seamless integration with other biomaterials.
Expert services
Worldwide support and expertise
Take advantage of our expert services to help select the right gelatin and formulate with ease.
Resources
Related
Accelerating innovation from ideation to market with right pharmaceutical excipient
Links
Additional information
Webshop (research and technical grades)
*Please note, by accessing the Webshop you will be redirected to a third party website. Rousselot is not liable for its content or the products/services offered on any third party website.
References
- Nikkhah, Medhi, Mohsen Akbari, Arghya Paul, Adnan Memic, Alireza Dolatshahi- Pirouz, and Ali Khademhosseini. 2016. Gelatin-based biomaterials for tissue engineering and stem cell bioengineering. In Biomaterials from Nature for Advanced Devices and Therapies, by Nuno M Never and Rui I Reis, 37-62. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
- Pepelanova, I., Kruppa, K., Scheper, T. and Lavrentieva, A., 2018. Gelatin-Methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogels with defined degree of functionalization as a versatile toolkit for 3D cell culture and extrusion bioprinting. Bioengineering, 5(3), p.55