A Review of the Compatibility of Liposome Bupivacaine With Other Drug Products and Commonly Used Implant Materials

AbstractThe compatibility of a medication with other drugs and implanted materials is an important factor impacting drug safety and efficacy. The liposomal formulation of the local anesthetic bupivacaine is designed to provide prolonged postsurgical analgesia. Its compatibility with other drugs and materials depends on the compatibility of the drug itself, along with the integrity of liposome and liposomal components. A series of studies was conducted to evaluate the compatibility of liposome bupivacaine with diluents, implanted materials, and other drugs likely to be encountered in the surgical settings in which it is used. Liposome bupivacaine demonstrated compatibility with diluents (normal saline, lactated Ringer's solution) and with implanted materials (silicone, stainless steel, titanium, polypropylene, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene), with little or no change in percent of free bupivacaine, packed particle volume, or particle size distribution; liposome bupivacaine exhibited little or no change i...