Systemic delivery versus elution of drugs that enhance device performance: questions are being...

Routes to better performance

On several occasions this column has addressed aspects of the technology of drug delivery. Much of this technology has been concerned with devices and materials that facilitate the delivery of a drug to a patient in a more controlled manner than is possible through intermittent oral or parenteral routes. In some cases, however, the purpose of the pharmacological agent has been to assist in the performance of the device itself, It does this through the positive support to the intended function of the device, for example, to promote bone rege