NUMERICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE RELEASE OF DRUG FROM A DRUG-DELIVERY DEVICE

Abstract

In this study a mathematical model for the release of drug from porous, nonswelling transdermal drug-delivery devices to a perfect sink is considered. The drug is postulated to diffuse in both the solvent-filled pores and the body of the polymer. The limit in which the dissolution of drug is the dominant process is considered and a moving boundary problem governing drug release is derived. This model is solved numerically under some spacial conditions. Furthermore, another limit case in which the dissolution process is not so rapid is investigated and analytical and numerical solutions based on Fourier series solution and finite differences method are derived. Finally, the numerical and analytical solutions are compared to show the ability of the proposed numerical procedures.