Membrane with controllable permeability for drugs

Summary form only given. Membranes find application in medicine for the continous delivery of drugs. The control of the delivered amount would be of great advantage. Therefore a composite membrane comprising a conductive polymer as an active separation layer is developed. By applying various potentials to the membrane system a controlled permeability through the membrane is achieved. Depending on the redox state of the conducting polymer different rates of permeation for water soluble substances are observed. Dopamine, a neurotransmitter is chosen for testing this new composite membrane. The amount of permeated dopamine is detected on-line with a thermospray mass spectrometer. Changes in the rate of permeation up to 60% are attained.