Fatty acid substituted polyvinyl alcohol as a supporting material for microsphere preparation

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is a versatile polymer with potential in biomedical applications.
• Developing biodegradable drug delivery systems with controlled release is crucial for effective therapy.
• Surface properties of drug carriers significantly impact their interaction with biological systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prepare and characterize biodegradable microspheres using acyl-substituted polyvinyl alcohol.
• To evaluate the influence of polymer modification on drug loading and release kinetics.
• To assess the potential of these microspheres for parenteral drug delivery.

Main Methods:

• Polyvinyl alcohol was substituted with lauric, myristic, palmitic, and stearic acids.
• Biodegradable microspheres were prepared using a solvent extraction method.
• Progesterone or indomethacin were encapsulated within the microspheres.
• Drug loading efficiency, release profiles, and protein adsorption were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Microspheres exhibited high drug loading efficiency.
• Drug release kinetics were tunable, with zero-order release observed for more hydrophilic microspheres.
• The nature of the acyl substituent and degree of substitution impacted release rates.
• Hydrophilic microspheres demonstrated reduced protein absorption on their surface.

Conclusions:

• Acyl-substituted polyvinyl alcohol is effective for creating drug-loaded biodegradable microspheres.
• Controlled drug release can be achieved by tailoring the polymer's hydrophilicity.
• The reduced protein adsorption suggests these microspheres are promising for parenteral administration.