| abstract |
System for delivery of a biologically active substance into an environment. The container is comprised of a single member or two mated members and defines first and second compartments. The container includes pores in at least a portion of the container defining the first compartment. The first compartment contains a polymer gel network which undergoes a volume expansion in response to an environmental condition which varies in the biological environment. The second compartment contains an effective amount of a biologically active compound and may include at least one passageway communicating with the biological environment. Drug delivery is initiated and continues only when the appropriate environmental condition or trigger is met, whereupon volume expansion of the polymer gel network causes the biologically active compound to be discharged into the biological environment. |