title: NMR and confocal microscopy studies of the mechanisms of burst drug release from PLGA microspheres.
abstract: Pulsed-field gradient (PFG) NMR and confocal microscopy techniques have been used to study the structural evolution and drug release profile of poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microspheres over time during immersion in an aqueous phase. Variation of the drying process used in the synthesis of the PLGA microspheres has been found to significantly influence the degree of permeability of the spheres to water. PFG NMR has been used to study the change in the cavity sizes within the pore structure of the microspheres over time following initial immersion. In these studies, the temperature of the secondary emulsion, used in the sphere synthesis, has been found to significantly change the temporal evolution of the pore structure. Confocal microscopy studies of the release of a model drug from within the microspheres suggest that the rate-limiting step in drug release is the swelling rate of the polymer matrix, and that the mechanism may be a percolation process. These studies also showed that the local rate of drug release is heterogeneously distributed across a microsphere, and thus, strictly, cannot be modelled as purely a simple diffusive release process from a sphere.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Antigoni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Messaritaki
authors.forename: Steven J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Black
authors.forename: Christopher F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: van der Walle
authors.forename: Sean P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Rigby
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004655:Emulsions; D005079:Excipients; D005612:Freeze Drying; D019344:Lactic Acid; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008863:Microspheres; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010316:Particle Size; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry*; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011108:Polymers
chemical_list: D004655:Emulsions; D005079:Excipients; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D011108:Polymers; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid