Amphotericin B-loaded poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(lactide) micelles: preparation, freeze-drying, and in vitro release

Polymeric micelles prepared from a series of poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(lactide) (PEG-PLA) diblock copolymers with various PLA chain lengths were designed as drug carriers for water insoluble drug amphotericin B (AmB). Physicochemical properties of AmB-loaded micelles were evaluated. Micelles were freeze-dried to obtain long-time stable formulations. The redispersibility of the freeze-dried samples was poor when the weight ratio of PLA block was bigger than the PEG block of the copolymer. Various types of lyoprotectants including saccharides and PEGs with different molecular weight were tested to improve the redispersion performance of the freeze-dried samples. PEG was proved to be more effective than saccharides on stabilizing the micelles during lyophilization when the weight ratio of PLA block was bigger than PEG block. The sustained release in vitro of AmB was evidenced. About 80% of AmB was released in 80 h. The in vitro release behavior could be best described by the first-order equation. The release rate was reduced as enhancing PLA chain length due to the stronger interaction between poorly water-soluble AmB and longer hydrophobic chain length of PLA.