Controlled release of salicylic acid from poly(D,L-Lactide)

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Poly(D,L-Lactide) is a biodegradable polymer with potential applications in drug delivery.
• Understanding its degradation and drug release kinetics is crucial for optimizing its use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prepare and characterize high molecular weight poly(D,L-Lactide).
• To investigate the swelling behavior and salicylic acid (SA) release from poly(D,L-Lactide) with varying molecular weights.
• To elucidate the release mechanism of SA from the polymer matrix.

Main Methods:

• Ring-opening bulk polymerization of D,L-Lactide to synthesize poly(D,L-Lactide).
• Characterization of polymer molecular weight (Mv), melting point, and swelling behavior.
• In vitro release studies of salicylic acid (SA) from polymer samples in a buffer solution.

Main Results:

• Poly(D,L-Lactide) swelling followed Fick's law, particularly for high molecular weight samples.
• Salicylic acid release demonstrated a time-linear relationship in the early stages.
• Higher SA content potentially accelerated the decomposition of high molecular weight poly(D,L-Lactide).

Conclusions:

• High molecular weight poly(D,L-Lactide) exhibits predictable swelling and drug release behavior.
• The release kinetics are influenced by polymer molecular weight and drug loading.
• Poly(D,L-Lactide) shows promise for controlled drug delivery applications, with release rates tunable by molecular weight and drug content.