Preparation of injectable auto-forming alginate gel containing simvastatin with amorphous calcium phosphate as a controlled release medium and their therapeutic effect in osteoporosis model rat

Highly soluble amorphous calcium phosphate powder (ACP) was added to the alginate gel as a buffering agent, in an attempt to enable widely controlled release while avoiding an acidification of the gel-environment. Therapeutic effects of the ACP-containing alginate gel which slowly releases a drug, simvastatin, on osteoporosis model rats were examined. A model drug, simvastatin, incorporated in the alginate gel with ACP up to 0.5%, was continuously released for a long time under the acidic condition. The release rate was controlled by the amount of ACP, serving as a buffer to suppress acidity. When the alginate solution intramuscularly injected in the rat, a soft gel was formed in the injected site. Simvastatin released from the gel containing 0.5% of ACP showed high therapeutic effect on osteoporosis rat. Thus, the present injectable long-sustained release system is expected to be a novel drug delivery controlling device.