Fabrication of a biodegradable drug delivery system with controlled release made of PLGA 5-FU hydroxyapatite

• Published in: Rapid prototyping journal 2008-01, Vol.14 (5), p.293-299
• Main Authors: Chu, Won-Shik, Jeong, Suk-Young, Kim, Sung-Geun, Ha, Won-Shik, Chi, Sang-Chul, Ahn, Sung-Hoon
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Additives; Biocompatibility; Biodegradability; Biodegradable materials; Biomedical materials; Biomedical research; Composite materials; Controlled release; Drug delivery systems; Drugs; Electron microscopes; Experiments; Hydroxyapatite; In vitro methods and tests; Performance evaluation; Permeability; Polylactic acid; Polymer matrix composites; Polymers; Pore size; Product development; Rapid prototyping; Scaffolds; Studies
• ISSN: 1355-2546; 1758-7670
• DOI: 10.1108/13552540810907965

Purpose - Rapid prototyping (RP) technology has been widely applied in biomedical research. The purpose of this paper is to describe how a scaffold composite drug delivery system (DDS) was fabricated using a nano composite deposition system (NCDS).Design methodology approach - A biocompatible and biodegradable thermoplastic polymer (poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide acid)) was used as the matrix, and a mixture of anti-cancer drug (5-fluorouracil) and bio-ceramic (hydroxyapatite - HA) was added to the polymer to form a bio-composite material for the DDS. An in vitro drug release test showed that the release rate of the drug composite could be controlled by the amount of HA for 50 days.Findings - Faster release was observed for the DDS with higher weight percent of HA. The relationship between release rate and the amount of HA showed a bi-linear manner, and bi-linear drug release models were developed based on the experimental results.Originality value - Cylindrical scaffolds were fabricated with polymer drug additive using an NCDS. A series of in vitro drug release tests was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of the additive, HA. Drug release models were developed based on the experimental results.