Preparation and Characterization of Biodegradable Nanospheres of Amphiphilic Methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide-co--caprolactone) for Controlled Drug Delivery

Methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide-co-e-caprolactone) (MPEG-b-PDLLGCL) amphiphilic diblock copolymers were synthesized and used as nanosphere matrices. The drug-loaded nanospheres were prepared by the modified-spontaneous emulsification diffusion method without any emulsifiers for controlled drug delivery of poorly water-soluble model drug, indomethacin. Effect of DLL/G/CL ratio on nanoparticle and drug release characteristics was evaluated. The resultant drug-loaded nanospheres with average size in range of 126 – 134 nm had spherical in shape and smooth in surface. The drug entrapped inside the nanospheres had amorphous state. Drug loading efficiency was not found to be influenced by the DLL/G/CL ratio. The drug release profiles exhibited biphasic with a fast release followed by a slow release. The amounts of drug release increased when the G and CL units were incorporated in the polyester blocks. This indicates that MPEG-b-PDLLGCL nanospheres might be useful candidate as sustained drug carriers for poorly water-soluble drugs

Preparation of Biodegradable Silk Fibroin/Alginate Blend Films for Controlled Release of Antimicrobial Drugs

Silk fibroin (SF)/alginate blend films have been prepared for controlled release of tetracycline hydrochloride, an antimicrobial model drug. The blend films were analysed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and UV-vis spectroscopy. The functional groups of the SF/alginate blends were monitored from their FTIR spectra. The homogeneity of the blend films was observed from SEM images. The dissolution and film transparency of the blend films depended on the SF/alginate blend ratio. The in vitro drug release profile of the blend films was determined by plotting the cumulative drug release versus time. It was found that the drug release significantly decreased as the SF/alginate blend ratio increased. The results demonstrated that the SF/alginate blend films should be a useful controlled-release delivery system for water-soluble drugs

Biodegradable nanoparticles of methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly( d, l-lactide)/methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)- b-poly(ϵ-caprolactone) blends for drug delivery

The effects of blend weight ratio and polyester block length of methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly( d, l-lactide) (MPEG- b-PDLL)/methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)- b-poly(ϵ-caprolactone) (MPEG- b-PCL) blends on nanoparticle characteristics and drug release behaviors were evaluated. The blend nanoparticles were prepared by nanoprecipitation method for controlled release of a poorly water-soluble model drug, indomethacin. The drug-loaded nanoparticles were nearly spherical in shape. The particle size and drug loading efficiency slightly decreased with increasing MPEG- b-PCL blend weight ratio. Two distinct thermal decomposition steps from thermogravimetric analysis suggested different blend weight ratios. Thermal transition changes from differential scanning calorimetry revealed miscible blending between MPEG- b-PDLL and MPEG- b-PCL in an amorphous phase. An in vitro drug release study demonstrated that the drug release behaviors depended upon the PDLL block length and the blend weight ratios but not on PCL block length

Preparation and Characterization of Biodegradable Nanospheres of Amphiphilic Methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide-co--caprolactone) for Controlled Drug Delivery

Methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide-co-e-caprolactone) (MPEG-b-PDLLGCL) amphiphilic diblock copolymers were synthesized and used as nanosphere matrices. The drug-loaded nanospheres were prepared by the modified-spontaneous emulsification diffusion method without any emulsifiers for controlled drug delivery of poorly water-soluble model drug, indomethacin. Effect of DLL/G/CL ratio on nanoparticle and drug release characteristics was evaluated. The resultant drug-loaded nanospheres with average size in range of 126 – 134 nm had spherical in shape and smooth in surface. The drug entrapped inside the nanospheres had amorphous state. Drug loading efficiency was not found to be influenced by the DLL/G/CL ratio. The drug release profiles exhibited biphasic with a fast release followed by a slow release. The amounts of drug release increased when the G and CL units were incorporated in the polyester blocks. This indicates that MPEG-b-PDLLGCL nanospheres might be useful candidate as sustained drug carriers for poorly water-soluble drugs

Preparation of Polysaccharide-Based Microspheres by a Water-in-Oil Emulsion Solvent Diffusion Method for Drug Carriers

Polysaccharide-based microspheres of chitosan, starch, and alginate were prepared by the water-in-oil emulsion solvent diffusion method for use as drug carriers. Blue dextran was used as a water-soluble biomacromolecular drug model. Scanning electron microscopy showed sizes of the resultant microspheres that were approximately 100 μm or less. They were spherical in shape with a rough surface and good dispersibility. Microsphere matrices were shown as a sponge. Drug loading efficiencies of all the microspheres were higher than 80%, which suggested that this method has potential to prepare polysaccharide-based microspheres containing a biomacromolecular drug model for drug delivery applications

Crystallization Study and Comparative in Vitro–in Vivo Hydrolysis of PLA Reinforcement Ligament

In the present work, the crystallization behavior and in vitro–in vivo hydrolysis rates of PLA absorbable reinforcement ligaments used in orthopaedics for the repair and reinforcement of articulation instabilities were studied. Tensile strength tests showed that this reinforcement ligament has similar mechanical properties to Fascia Latta, which is an allograft sourced from the ilio-tibial band of the human body. The PLA reinforcement ligament is a semicrystalline material with a glass transition temperature around 61 °C and a melting point of ~178 °C. Dynamic crystallization revealed that, although the crystallization rates of the material are slow, they are faster than the often-reported PLA crystallization rates. Mass loss and molecular weight reduction measurements showed that in vitro hydrolysis at 50 °C initially takes place at a slow rate, which gets progressively higher after 30–40 days. As found from SEM micrographs, deterioration of the PLA fibers begins during this time. Furthermore, as found from in vivo hydrolysis in the human body, the PLA reinforcement ligament is fully biocompatible and after 6 months of implantation is completely covered with flesh. However, the observed hydrolysis rate from in vivo studies was slow due to high molecular weight and degree of crystallinity

Effect of different compatibilizers on injection-molded green composite pieces based on polylactide filled with almond shell flour

[EN] Green composites made of polylactide (PLA) filled with almond shell flour (ASF) at a constant weight content of 25¿wt.-% were manufactured by injection molding. In order to increase the interfacial adhesion between the biopolymer and the lignocellulosic fillers, three different compatibilizers were tested, namely multi-functional epoxy-based styrene-acrylic oligomer (ESAO), aromatic carbodiimide (AC), and maleinized linseed oil (MLO). The effect of each compatibilizer on the thermal, mechanical, and thermomechanical properties and water uptake of the injection-molded PLA/ASF pieces was analyzed. The obtained results indicated that all the here-studied compatibilizers had a positive influence on both the thermal stability and the mechanical and thermomechanical performance of the green composite pieces but low impact on their water uptake profile. In addition, the morphological analysis performed at the fracture surfaces of the green composite pieces revealed that the filler¿matrix gap was substantially reduced. Among the tested compatibilizers, ESAO and MLO yielded the highest performance in terms of mechanical strength and ductility, respectively. In the case of MLO, it also offers the advantage of being a plant-derived additive so that its application in green composites positively contributes to the development of sustainable polymer technologies.This research was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) program number MAT2014-59242-C2-1-R and AGL2015-63855-C2-1-R and Generalitat Valenciana (GV) program number GV/2014/008. A. Carbonell-Verdu wants to thank Universitat Politecnica de Valencia (UPV) for his FPI grant. D. Garcia-Garcia wants to thank the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports (MECD) for his FPU grant (FPU13/06011). L. Quiles-Carrillo also wants to thank GV for his FPI grant (ACT/2016/182) and the MECD for his FPU grant (FPU15/03812).Quiles-Carrillo, L.; Montanes, N.; Garcia-Garcia, D.; Carbonell-Verdu, A.; Balart, R.; Torres-Giner, S. (2018). Effect of different compatibilizers on injection-molded green composite pieces based on polylactide filled with almond shell flour. Composites Part B Engineering. 147:76-85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2018.04.017S768514

Influence of Chain-Extension Reaction on Stereocomplexation, Mechanical Properties and Heat Resistance of Compressed Stereocomplex-Polylactide Bioplastic Films

Stereocomplex polylactide (scPLA) films were prepared by melt blending of poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) and poly(d-lactide) (PDLA) with and without an epoxy-based chain extender before compression molding. The obtained scPLA films were characterized through differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffractometry (XRD), tensile testing and dimensional stability to heat. XRD patterns revealed that all the scPLA films had only stereocomplex crystallites. The obtained results showed that the chain-extension reaction improved mechanical properties of the scPLA films, however, it suppressed stereocomplexation and heat resistance

Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Biodegradable Star-Shaped/Linear Polylactide Stereocomplexes

The 6-arm star-shaped poly(L-lactide) (6PLL)/linear poly(D-lactide) (1PDL) stereocomplex films were prepared by the solvent casting method. The influences of the 6PLL/1PDL blend ratios (75/25, 50/50, and 25/75 w/w) and 1PDL molecular weights (15,000, 30,000, and 60,000 g/mol) on the thermal and mechanical properties of the stereocomplex films were investigated. The 6PLL and 1PDLs had a single melting temperature (Tm) of homocrystallites at 174°C and 167°C, respectively. The 6PLL/1PDL blends had two Tms: a lower Tm of homocrystallites (160–173°C) and a higher Tm of stereocomplex crystallites (219–228°C). The stereocomplex crystallinity and mechanical properties of the 6PLL/1PDL blend films were higher than those of 6PLL and 1PDL and were the highest in the 50/50 (w/w) blend ratio. However, the stereocomplex crystallinity of the 50/50 (w/w) 6PLL/1PDL blend films decreased and the mechanical properties increased as the molecular weight of 1PDL increased

Improvement in Thermal Stability of Flexible Poly(L-lactide)-<i>b</i>-poly(ethylene glycol)-<i>b</i>-poly(L-lactide) Bioplastic by Blending with Native Cassava Starch

High-molecular-weight poly(L-lactide)-b-poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(L-lactide) triblock copolymer (PLLA-PEG-PLLA) is a promising candidate for use as a biodegradable bioplastic because of its high flexibility. However, the applications of PLLA-PEG-PLLA have been limited due to its high cost and poor thermal stability compared to PLLA. In this work, native cassava starch was blended to reduce the production cost and to improve the thermal stability of PLLA-PEG-PLLA. The starch interacted with PEG middle blocks to increase the thermal stability of the PLLA-PEG-PLLA matrix and to enhance phase adhesion between the PLLA-PEG-PLLA matrix and dispersed starch particles. Tensile stress and strain at break of PLLA-PEG-PLLA films decreased and the hydrophilicity increased as the starch content increased. However, all the PLLA-PEG-PLLA/starch films remained more flexible than the pure PLLA film, representing a promising candidate in biomedical, packaging and agricultural applications