Unveiling the potential of pullulan in enhancing ketoprofen release from PHBV filaments

In this study, sustainable poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) and pullulan (PUL)/PHBV filaments were prepared with ketoprofen for scaffold preparation. The research aimed evaluate the influence of pullulan in the filament properties, such as thermal, morphological, and biological behavior. Hansen parameters demonstrated the difference in the miscibility of the polymers and drug in the blend. This difference in solubility contributed to thermal stabilization, and reduced the crystallinity of the blend, observing a reduction in crystalline peak at 30.82° (002). The morphology change was observed by SEM images, in which ketoprofen appears to smooth and homogenize the filament surface. Cytotoxicity tests on osteoblast cells confirmed that all samples were biocompatible, and the presence of ketoprofen was comparable to the control group. Importantly, the in vitro release of ketoprofen revealed that the presence of pullulan increased the cumulative release of ketoprofen, from 0.1 % to 36 %, within 240 min of the dissolution test. This highlights the crucial role of pullulan in fine-tuning drug release. These findings underscore the potential of these materials for bone regeneration applications, combining the cytotoxic and cell adhesion properties of PHBV with the osteoblasts, and offering precise control over the degradation process and drug release through the incorporation of pullulan.