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Characteristics of Precipitation-formed Polyethylene Glycol Microgels Are Controlled by Molecular Weight of Reactants
Published on: December 23, 2013
Polycaprolactone/polyethylene-glycol capsules made by injection molding: A drug release modeling
Sara Liparoti1, Paola Franco1, Roberto Pantani1
1Department of Industrial Engineering (DIIn), University of Salerno, via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, Fisciano, SA 84084, Italy.
Abstract:
Polycaprolactone (PCL)/Polyethylene-glycol (PEG) capsules are prepared by injection molding with the aim of producing Colon-specific Drug Delivery Systems (CDDS). PCL, being a gastroresistant polymer, is suitable for this kind of delivery; however, the release from PCL devices is too slow. For this reason, in this paper, different percentages of PEG (10, 20 and 30 w/w %) have been added to obtain blends able to modulate the release from PCL-based capsules. The drug release rate from PCL/PEG capsules increases with the PEG percentage; using PCL/PEG 70/30 w/w capsules, the drug release is suitable for CDDS. The experimental data have been modelled, accounting for three steps: the penetration of the release medium into the capsule, the drug dissolution in the release medium, and the drug migration from the capsule to the medium. The model accurately describes the data, showing a mass transfer coefficient strongly dependent on the PEG percentage.
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