Controlled release of pranoprofen from the ethylene-vinyl acetate matrix using plasticizer

An ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) matrix containing pranoprofen was prepared using the casting method and the release patterns of pranoprofen were observed. The solubility of pranoprofen was determined to be a function of the volume fraction of polyethylene glycol 400. The release of the drug from the matrix was examined as a function of temperature and drug concentration. Plasticizers such as the citrates and the phthalates were added to prepare the membrane in order to increase the flexibility of the EVA matrix. The solubility of pranoprofen was the highest when the PEG 400 concentration was 20% (v/v). The rate of drug release from the EVA matrix increased with increasing temperature and drug loading dose. There was a linear relationship between the flux of pranoprofen and the square root of the loading dose. The activation energy of release (Ea), which was measured from the slope of the log P versus 1000/T plots, was estimated to be 17.44, 16.14, 14.88, and 14.78 kcal/mol for loading doses of 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2%, respectively. Among the plasticizers used such as the citrate and the phthalate groups, diethyl phthalate had the best enhancing effects on drug release. In conclusion, the application of an EVA matrix containing a plasticizer might be useful in the development of a controlled drug delivery system.