A new catheter-integrated drug-delivery system for controlled intravesical mitomycin C release

Intravesical treatment of bladder cancer is preferred over systemic administration. However, the efficacy of intravesical instillations is challenged by the periodic voiding that flushes out the instilled drug and ultimately reduces drug exposure to the bladder epithelium. Here, we demonstrate a new catheter-integrated drug-delivery concept that utilizes a silicone-based interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) as material for the catheter balloon, to facilitate continuous release of the bladder cancer adjuvant, Mitomycin C, from a balloon-reservoir to the urinary bladder. Long-term release properties and anti-carcinoma cell efficacy of released drug was investigated in vitro. Short-term release experiments were performed in live pigs to evaluate the IPN prototype catheter in a physiological relevant environment in vivo. Sustained zero-order release of Mitomycin C was achieved for 12 days in vitro without refilling the balloon. Mitomycin C was released from the IPN-balloons into the urinary bladder of live pigs in concentrations adequate to inhibit carcinoma cell growth. The IPN catheter represents a new drug-delivery concept for prolonged Mitomycin C delivery to the urinary bladder.