CARBOXYMETHYL-CHITIN AS A DRUG CARRIER OF SUSTAINED-RELEASE

Methamphetamine-bound carboxymethyl-chitin (CM-chitin) was found to induce hapten-specific antibodies through subcutaneous injection only in the presence of Freund's complete adjuvant in spite of its highly biodegradable property. CM-Chitin was employed as a sustained-release drug carrier for the subcutaneous injection. The induced specific antibody was applied to the titration of methamphetamine secreted into the blood of rabbits. The methamphetamine concentration in blood serum was maintained for 120 h at fairly high levels. Methamphetamine was also excreted into urine at high levels with a similar time course to that in blood serum. © 1990.