the components necessarily required to producing the polymer complexes of the present invention include an bioactive agent , an aldehydic polymer , and a multifunctional hydrazide . mixing the above components results in a solid matrix as a consequence of the reaction of dihydrazide with the aldehyde groups on the polymer chains with three dimensional cross - linking . the reaction is run at acid ph ( e . g ., between about 4 . 0 to about 6 . 0 ) in order to speed the gel formation and to prevent reaction of amino groups of the active ingredient . the active ingredient is thus trapped within the resulting polymer matrix . shortly after mixing the components the solution / suspension is injected / installed in an animal or human patient . the matrix solidifies in situ within several minutes ( e . g ., usually within about 5 minutes ). the hydrated polymer matrix degrades in vivo and is therefore resorbable by the body . unlike polyesters no acid is produced as a result of resorption . non - reactive polymers may be included to alter the diffusional resistance or to complex the bioactive agent . 1 . non - toxic 2 . resorbable 3 . versatile as to molecular size and chemical nature of the bioactive agent 4 . no requirement for exotic components that are expensive or difficult to obtain 5 . controllable release rate 6 . producible according to gmp at reasonable cost 7 . sterilizable disclosed herein are polysaccharide drug delivery matrices and the methodology for producing and using the same . more specifically , the polysaccharide drug delivery matrices of the present invention may be derived from periodate - oxidized dextran and dihydrazides . the cross - linking reaction is carried out at acidic ph , which allows entrapment of bioactive substances with free amino groups . protonation of the amino groups in the ph range of 4 - 6 renders such groups relatively unreactive as compared to the dihydrazides . hence the bioactive agent remains in tact and does not consume aldehydic cross - linking sites . it is important to maintain the ph of the reaction mixture to between about 4 . 0 to about 6 . 0 . in some cases , it may be necessary to add an agent , such as sodium phosphate or an organic acid ( e . g ., citric or fumaric acid ), to adjust the ph to within the desired range . in the cases where the active ingredients are present as salts , the addition of sodium phosphate or an organic acid to adjust the ph is not always necessary . in general , therefore , when the active ingredient contributes acidity , there may not be a need to add an acidic agent so as to adjust the ph . vicinol diols react with sodium metaperiodate to yield aldehydes . polyglucans , mannans , levans , and the like , react smoothly in aqueous solution at room temperature . when a polymer such as dextran is reacted with periodate the result is iodate and a polymer chain containing intermittent dialdehyde groupings . these dialdehydes serve as sites for reaction with adipic dihydrazide , which results in the formation of a covalently cross - linked hydrophilic gel . the reaction to form the polymer complexes according to the present invention may be represented schematically as : in which x represents the dihydrazone cross - link and d represents the active ingredient . it should be stressed that only a fraction of the vicinol diols in the polysaccharide are reacted . on a residue molar basis , the degree of oxidation is in the 5 - 20 % range . the reaction scheme above is not intended to represent stoichiometry of the reaction . release rate and control of the release profile are important considerations of drug delivery systems . where d is the diffusion coefficient ; a is the surface area and ∂ c /∂ x ) is the concentration gradient at the boundary of the matrix . in which k is a constant , s is the solubility of the active ingredient , m w is the molecular weight and v is the viscosity of the medium . complexation can reduce the effective solubility and the addition of non - reactive polymers can increase the “ viscosity ” or diffusional resistance . the oxidation level may be varied from between about 5 % to about 20 %. the polymer concentration can be within the range of between about 50 to about 250 mg / ml depending on the system employed for preparing the formulation . active ingredients can be converted to hydrophobic salts . for instance , amines can be converted with c6 or greater carboxylic acids . these salts can be employed to extend the release profile either alone or in combination with highly soluble inorganic salts . the polymers to be oxidized must be biocompatible and resorbable . any polymer that meets these criteria may be used . preferred are dextran ( produced by microbial fermentation ) and derivatives thereof ; dextrans from other sources may be employed as long as they are biocompatible and have properties similar to usp dextran . the preferred molecular weight of the polymer is 40 , 000 or greater . in general , the reaction time required for gellation is longer when low molecular weight oxidized dextran is employed . organic solvent - water mixtures can be used to accelerate dissolution and reaction rates when higher molecular weight hydrazides are employed . the matrices described herein are usefully employed for delivering bioactive agents including , for example , drugs , hormones , cytokines , growth factors , cells , and the like . direct injection for local or systemic drug delivery is one mode of use . others include coatings for implants , wound sealant , topical wound dressing , local installation perioperatively for infection control or pain control ( local anesthetic ). one embodiment of the present invention includes demineralized bone matrix ( dbm ) which is made by treating donor bone with acid to remove the inorganic components ( urist , m r , et al ., proc . natl . acad . sci . ( 1984 ) 81 , 372 - 375 ; peterson , et al ., jbjs ( 2004 ) 86 , 2243 - 2250 ). following sterilization , dbm can be mixed with a carrier and placed in an orthopedic defect . osteoinduction results in new bone formation . dbm can be delivered to an orthopedic defect using the matrix described herein in at least two ways . first , the dbm dry solid can be blended with the dihydrazide and subsequently treated with oxidized dextran solution . the resulting liquid suspension is taken up in a syringe and installed by the surgeon . with most forms of dbm , the dual syringe system can be employed . secondly , the mixture containing polymer matrix and dbm is allowed to solidify . when dry , this material becomes quite hard and will bear weight . the dry composite is then fashioned to form , the desired shape . cancellous bone chips , hydroxyapatite , or other inorganic materials may be included in the formulation prior to installation . those skilled in the art will of course recognize that it is possible to combine other bioactive agents with the osteoinductive dbm , a dbm / antibiotic matrix may therefore be useful for treating bone and joint infections . furthermore , a dbm / bupivacaine matrix may be useful for treating pain at bone graft procurement sites , such as the iliac crest , which is a common source for allograft bone for use in spine arthrodesis . for a number of orthopedic applications , bone marrow aspirate is another logical additive to use with osteoinductive dbm with the matrix described herein . mesenchymal stem cells and other progenitor cells may be delivered with regulatory biochemicals . chondrocytes may be delivered for repair of articular cartilage . one additional beneficial use of the matrices according to the present invention is the prevention of post - surgical adhesions . specifically , following surgery ( such as abdominal , gynecological , or pelvic surgery ) the installation of a matrix in accordance with the present invention may contribute to the significant reduction of adhesions . various adjuvants can be employed including fibrinolytic agents , anticoagulants , anti - inflammatory agents , and antibiotics . in this application an additional polymer such as polyethyleneglycol ( 8000 ) is advantageously included in the oxidized dextran solution . a duel syringe set - up may be used in preparation of the resorbable polymer matrices according to the present invention . for example a solution of an aldehydic polymer , such as oxidized dextran , may be contained within the barrel of one syringe , while a mixture of solid drug and solid dihydazide may be contained within the barrel of the other syringe . monosodium phosphate may be included to control ph , which is advantageously maintained in the range of between about 4 . 0 to about 6 . 0 . the syringes are connected to one another so that the contents may be mixed by alternately transferring the mixture from one syringe barrel to another for about 30 cycles . solidification occurs within about 1 to about 10 minutes depending on the relative concentrations of components . the oxidized dextran solution is stable for at least one year and the solid components are stable for at least that time , in some cases indefinitely . maintenance of sterility , broad applicability , stability of the bioactive agent and ease of use are the attributes of such a double syringe system . various physical forms of the invention may be produced . in this regard , it is especially preferred that the polymer matrices of the invention be in the form of an injectable liquid , which solidifies inside the body . the injectable liquid made with the double syringe system can also be applied to surgical wounds / incisions or the wounds resulting from injuries . the formulation solidifies and serves as a wound sealant . antibiotics and growth factors may be used to prevent infection and promote healing . another approach is to allow the dosage form to set up ( solidify ) ex vivo prior to being administered . after drying and milling , the resulting powder can be used topically . alternatively or additionally , the powder can be suspended and used parenterally . a solid dosage form of the invention solidified ex vivo may be used as a topical anti - infective powder for wound treatment . entrapment of clindamycin and amikacin within a resorbable polymer matrix produces a broad spectrum , long lasting antibiotic powder . other types of antibiotics such as fluoroquinolones , glycopeptides , macrolides , beta lactams and others can also be employed either singly or in combination as may be desired . fibers of the resorbable polymer matrices according to the present invention can be prepared by injection spinning of the reaction mixture into isopropanol . these fibers may be tailored by changing the relative amount of cross - linking reagent and / or the use non - reactive polymers . the fibers containing antibiotic can be woven into a bandage or used as is to treat an infection such as a septic diabetic foot ulcer . microbeads are readily prepared using oxidized dextran and dihydrazides . after mixing using the double syringe the formulation is injected into rapidly stirred mineral oil containing a surfactant . the resulting microbeads are washed with organic to solvent , dried , and packaged . these microbeads are suspendable in water and can be injected through a 23 - gauge needle . the utility of the invention is further illustrated by the non - limiting entries shown in table 1 . dextran ( 4 g ; mw 500 , 000 ) was dissolved in 20 ml distilled water . to this solution was added 535 mg of finely ground naio 4 with rapid stirring . the mixture was stirred in the dark for 1 hour and then dialyzed against three changes of distilled water ( 1 l each ). the oxidized dextran solution ( about 70 mg / ml ) was stored at room temperature in the dark . the solution was concentrated with a rotary evaporator at 40 ° c . to about 200 mg / ml . oxidized dextran solution , prepared as described in example 1 ( 1 ml , 93 mg / ml ), was loaded into a 3 - ml syringe . a finely ground powder containing 21 mg adipic dihydrazide , 20 mg citric acid , and 150 mg ciprofloxacin was loaded into a second 3 - ml syringe . the syringe , which contained about 0 . 5 ml of air along with the powder mixture was closed with a plug - type cap . just prior to use the two syringes were coupled using a double - ended connector . the contents of the syringes were mixed during about 30 reciprocations . installation of the mixture into a wound may be accomplished via a needle or cannula attached to the syringe containing the mixture . the setting time for this formulation is 8 - 10 minutes . substitution of a mixture of ciprofloxacin and clindamycin ( 75 mg each ) for ciprofloxacin yields a broad spectrum formulation covering anaerobes as well as aerobes . bupivacaine ( 100 mg ) was placed into a mortar and ground with 100 mg carboxymethylcellulose sodium ( cmc ) ( m w 70 , 000 ). oxidized dextran 500 , 000 ; 66 mg / ml ; 1 ml ) was blended with the bupivacaine / cmc mixture at room temperature . after a homogenous suspension was obtained , adipic acid dihydrazide ( 7 . 8 mg ) was added . a sample ( 200 mg ) of the resulting gel was transferred to a 2 ml centrifuge tube for the release experiment in pbs buffer . the release profile of the formulation appears in table 1 below : bupivacaine fb ( 100 mg ) was finely ground with 50 mg dss ( mw , 500 , 000 ). oxidized dextran solution ( mw , 500 , 000 ; 66 mg / ml ; 1 ml ) was added to the bupivacaine - dss powder and mixed at room temperature . to the resulting homogenous suspension adipic acid dihydrazide ( 7 . 8 mg ) and succinic acid ( 10 mg ) were added . a sample ( 200 mg ) of the reaction mixture was transferred into a 2 ml centrifuge tube for the release experiment in pbs buffer . the release profile of the matrix appears in table 2 below : piperacillin ( sodium salt , 50 mg ) was placed in 5 ml beaker . oxidized dextran solution ( mw , 500 , 000 ; 85 mg / ml ; 1 ml ) was added to the piperacillin and mixed thoroughly at room temperature . after a homogenous suspension was created , adipic acid dihydrazide ( 10 mg ) was added and mixed thoroughly . a sample ( 200 mg ) of the resulting formulation was transferred to a 2 ml centrifuge tube for the release experiment in pbs buffer . the release profile of the matrix appears in table 3 below : ceftiofur - hcl ( 50 mg ) and adipic acid dihydrazide ( 10 mg ) were placed in a ml syringe . this syringe was connected to a second syringe containing 1 ml of oxidized dextran ( mw , 500 , 000 ; 85 mg / ml ; 1 ml ). the contents of the two syringes were mixed by making 20 reciprocations . a sample ( 200 μl ) of the reaction mixture was transferred to a 2 ml centrifuge tube for the release experiment in pbs buffer . the release profile of the matrix appears in table 4 below : sodium phosphate ( 40 mg ) was dissolved in 1 ml of oxidized dextran solution ( mw , 500 , 000 ; 66 mg / ml ). azoalbumin ( 30 mg ) was added and mixed thoroughly at room temperature . after homogenous suspension was created adipic acid dihydrazide ( 8 mg ) was added . after about one hour , 200 mg of the resulting complex was transferred into a centrifuge tube for the release experiment in pbs buffer . the release profile of the matrix appears in table 5 below : amikacin sulfate ( 100 mg ), dbm ( 200 mg ), and 8 mg of adipic acid dihydrazide were placed into a beaker and mixed thoroughly . oxidized dextran solution ( mw , 500 , 000 ; 66 mg / ml ; 1 ml ) was added to the mixture . tobramycin - sulfate or tobramycin - sulfate / clindamycin - hcl ( 1 / 1 ) can be used in place of amikacin - sulfate . paclitaxel ( 30 mg ) was finely ground with 40 mg of monosodium phosphate and 30 mg adipic dihydrazide . the resulting powder was transferred to a 3 ml syringe fitted with a luer plug . the syringe was connected to a second syringe containing 3 ml of oxidized dextran ( mw , 500 , 000 ; 85 mg / ml ). after about thirty reciprocations of the syringe plungers , the gel was ready to inject . the liquid mixture may therefore be installed in the cavity left by lumpectomy where it gels in situ . the paclitaxel may kill cancer cells on the margins of the cavity and also serves as a radiation sensitizer during adjuvant radiation . vancomycin ( 100 mg ) was finely ground with 30 mg dss ( mw , 500000 ) and 8 mg adipic dihydrazide . the mixture was loaded into a 3 - ml syringe fitted with a luer plug . oxidized dextran solution ( 1 ml , mw of 500 , 000 ; 66 mg / ml ) was loaded into a second syringe . an injectable formulation was formed after connecting the syringes and performing 30 reciprocations of the syringe plungers . doxycycline - hcl ( 100 mg ) was finely ground with 90 mg dss ( mw , 500 , 000 ) and 8 mg adipic dihydrazide . the mixture was loaded into a 3 - ml syringe fitted with a luer plug . oxidized dextran solution ( 1 ml , mw of 500 , 000 ; 66 mg / ml ) was loaded into a second syringe . an injectable formulation was formed after connecting the syringes and performing 30 reciprocations of the syringe plungers . one syringe contains a polymer solution — oxidized dextran ( 70 , 000 mw , 10 % oxidation , 160 mg / ml ) and carboxymethylcellulose ( medium viscosity , 16 mg / ml ). the second syringe contains 15 mg of adipic dihydrazide , 50 mg ciprofloxacin , and 30 mg of an effervescent mixture , which consisted of 1 . 2 g sodium bicarbonate and 1 g of citric acid . the syringes were connected and the contents mixed by 20 reciprocations . this antibiotic foam is advantageously used in treatment of wounds which are infected or are likely to become infected . one syringe contains oxidized dextran ( 70 , 000 mw , 160 mg / ml , and 10 % oxidation ) and carboxymethylcellulose ( medium viscosity , sodium salt , 16 mg / ml ). the second syringe contains adipic dihydrazide ( 15 mg ) and 50 mg ciprofloxacin . the syringes were connected and the contents mixed and expressed after 20 reciprocations . starch glycolate ( sodium salt , 30 mg ) can be substituted for carboxymethylcellulose . these formulations can be quickly spread to cast a film . the alternative is to shape them after an acceptable plasticity is attained prior to installation into a defect or application to a wound . amikacin ( 586 mg ) was suspended in 10 ml of 80 % methanol . octanoic acid ( 700 μl ) was added with stirring . the mixture was stirred for 3 hours at room temperature . the solvent was evaporated and the residue was triturated with hexane . a solid resulted with a melting point of 105 - 110 ° c . using a stoichiometry of 4 acid to 1 amikacin other salts can be made using this procedure . examples include hexanoate and laurate . similarly , hexanote , octanoate , and laurate salts of tobramycin , and gentamycin have been prepared in accordance with the procedures of this example 13 . clindamycin ( 460 mg ) was dissolved in 5 ml of 80 % methanol . lauric acid ( 200 mg ) was added with stirring . the mixture was stirred for 2 hours at room temperature and then concentrated with a rotary evaporator . trituration with 10 ml of hexane yielded a solid . after drying in vacuo overnight the melting point was found to be 103 - 105 ° c . other useful salts include hexanoate and octanoate . lincomycin salts can be prepared in a similar fashion . bupivacaine ( 576 mg ) was dissolved in 7 ml of 80 % methanol . to this stirred solution was added 316 μl of caprylic acid . after two hours at room temperature , the mixture was concentrated using a rotary evaporator . the resulting solid had a melting range of 90 - 96 ° c . hexanoate and laurate salts can be prepared in a similar manner . doxycycline ( 100 mg ) was finely ground and mixed with 6 mg adipic dihydrazide . this mixture was loaded into a 3 - ml syringe fitted with a luer plug . oxidized dextran solution ( 1 ml , mw of 500 , 000 ; 110 mg / ml ) was loaded into a second syringe . an injectable formulation was formed after connecting the syringes and performing 30 reciprocations of the syringe plungers . tobramycin caprylate ( 50 mg ) and clindamycin caprylate ( 50 mg ) were ground together . this solid mixture was loaded into syringe a ( 3 ml ) with 10 mg of adipic dihydrazide . a solution of oxidized dextran ( 1 ml ; mw 70 , 000 ; 10 % oxidation ; 100 mg / ml ) was loaded into syringe b ( 3 ml ). a femoral stem was pre - heated to 60 ° c . syringe a and syringe b were connected and the contents mixed with 20 reciprocations of the syringe plungers . using a brush and one the syringes fitted with a blunt cannula , the implant was coated with homogenous layer of material . after drying overnight , the coated implant was immersed in a tube containing phosphate buffered saline ( pbs ) at 37 ° c . the eluate showed antibacterial activity for more than one week . while the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment , it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment , but on the contrary , is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims .
a bioerodible composition for delivery of a bioactive agent is the reaction product of a reaction mixture which includes an oxidized dextran solution , and a mixture of solids containing a dihydrazide , a bioactive agent , and optionally a ph adjusting agent in an amount sufficient to achieve a ph of the reaction mixture of 6 or less . the composition may include a release agent for the controlled release of the bioactive agent from the composition . the composition may be administered to a body site in need of the same by providing a first aliquot portion of a reaction mixture which includes the reactants and a bioactive agent . a kit which includes a double syringe respectively containing the first and second aliquot portions of the reaction mixture may be provided so that the same may be mixed just prior to use .