Hierarchical microplates as drug depots with controlled geometry, rigidity and therapeutic efficacy.

A variety of microparticles have been proposed for the sustained and localized delivery of drugs whit the objective of increasing therapeutic indexes by circumventing filtering organs and biological barriers. Yet, the geometrical, mechanical and therapeutic properties of such microparticles cannot be simultaneously and independently tailored during the fabrication process in order to optimize their performance. In this work, a top-down approach is employed to realize micron-sized polymeric particles, called microPlates (uPLs), for the sustained release of therapeutic agents. uPLs are square hydrogel particles, with an edge length of 20 um and a height of 5 um, made out of poly (lactic co glycolic acid) (PLGA). During the synthesis process, the uPL Young's modulus can be varied from 0.6 to 5 MPa by changing PLGA amounts from 1 to 7.5 mg, without affecting the uPL geometry. Within the porous uPL matrix, different classes of therapeutic payloads can be incorporated including molecular agents, such as the anti-inflammatory dexamethasone (DEX), and nanoparticles, containing themselves imaging and therapeutic molecules. As a proof of principle, uPLs are loaded with free DEX and 200 nm spherical polymeric nanoparticles, carrying DEX molecules (DEX-SPNs). Electron and fluorescent confocal microscopy analyses document the uniform distribution and stability of molecular and nano agents within the uPL matrix. This multiscale, hierarchical microparticle releases DEX for at least 10 days. The inclusion of DEX-SPNs serves to minimize the initial burst release and modulate the diffusion of DEX molecules out of the uPL matrix. The pharmacological and therapeutic properties together with the fine tuning of geometry and mechanical stiffness make uPLs a unique polymeric depot for the potential treatment of cancer, cardiovascular and chronic, inflammatory diseases.