%T Bioresorbable microspheres as devices for the controlled release of paclitaxel
%P 121-128
%I North Atlantic University Union
%V 5
%L eprints3256
%D 2011
%X The release of the anti-cancer drug paclitaxel (PTX) from microspheres of both a bioresorbable poly(?-caprolactoneoxyethylene- ?-caprolactone) tri-block copolymer and of polyurethanes containing either copolymers with the same composition and different molecular weights or poly(?-caprolactone) diol as soft segments was studied. The microspheres, both loaded and not with PTX, were prepared by emulsion-evaporation technique, then characterized by SEM and DSC. The quantities of PTX released were measured by HPLC. The results showed slow and very regular releases, which fit very well the Peppas equation, Mt/M? = k ? tn, where Mt is the amount of solute released at the time t, M? is the amount of drug released at the plateau condition, k represents the Peppas kinetic constant and n the diffusion order. Most n values are consistent with non-Fickian release mechanisms, with the exceptions of two less hydrophilic polyurethanes.
%A Giulio D. Guerra
%A Caterina Cristallini
%A Niccoletta Barbani
%A Mariacristina Gagliardi
%K Controlled release, microspheres, paclitaxel,
poly(ester-ether-ester)s, polyurethanes.
%J International Journal of Biology and Biomedical Engineering
%N 3