In vivo release of testosterone from vinyl polymer composites prepared by radiation-induced polymerization.

Polymer-testosterone composites with long periods of controlled slow release were made by radiation-induced polymerization in a supercooled state at low temperature using glass-forming monomers. The in vitro release of testosterone from various vinyl polymer composites was found to follow a matrix-controlled process (Q-t1/2). The rate of drug delivery was accelerated with increasing water content of polymers. In experiments in vivo, the composites were implanted subcutaneously in the back of castrated rats during the 30 day test period. The in vivo release rate of testosterone was a little smaller than in vitro. This difference between two releases also increased with the increase of hydrophilicity of polymer. The physiological response in rats was investigated by measuring the weight of ventral prostate and serum testosterone concentration with testosterone-containing composites. The weight of ventral prostate increased linearly with increasing rate of drug release and the serum testosterone concentration could be correlated with the release and with the weight increase of ventral prostate. It was found from microscopic observation that the used polymer carriers had relatively good biocompatibility to cause little foreign body reaction.