title: Analytical and numerical study of diffusion-controlled drug release from composite spherical matrices.
abstract: We investigate, both analytically and numerically, diffusion-controlled drug release from composite spherical formulations consisting of an inner core and an outer shell of different drug diffusion coefficients. Theoretically derived analytical results are based on the exact solution of Fick's second law of diffusion for a composite sphere, while numerical data are obtained using Monte Carlo simulations. In both cases, and for the range of matrix parameter values considered in this work, fractional drug release profiles are described accurately by a stretched exponential function. The release kinetics obtained is quantified through a detailed investigation of the dependence of the two stretched exponential release parameters on the device characteristics, namely the geometrical radii of the inner core and outer shell and the corresponding drug diffusion coefficients. Similar behaviors are revealed by both the theoretical results and the numerical simulations, and approximate analytical expressions are presented for the dependencies.
authors: Physics Department, University of Patras, Rio GR-26504, Greece.
authors: Amalia
authors: A
authors: Hadjitheodorou
authors: Materials Science Department, University of Patras, Rio GR-26504, Greece; Institute of Chemical Engineering Sciences-Foundation of Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH/ICE-HT), PO Box 1414, Rio GR-26504, Greece; Crete Center for Quantum Complexity and Nanotechnology, Physics Department, University of Crete, Heraklion GR-71003, Greece. Electronic address: georgek@upatras.gr.
authors: George
authors: G
authors: Kalosakas
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D004058:Diffusion; D065546:Drug Liberation; D007700:Kinetics; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009010:Monte Carlo Method
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations
keywords: Composite spheres; Controlled drug delivery; Diffusion; Mathematical modeling; Monte Carlo simulations; Stretched exponential (Weibull) function