Control of vitamin B12 release from poly(ethylene glycol)/poly(butylene terephthalate) multiblock copolymers

Biomaterials. 2002 Mar;23(6):1527-36. doi: 10.1016/s0142-9612(01)00286-1.

Abstract

The release of vitamin B12 (1355 Da) from matrices based on multiblock copolymers was studied. The copolymers were composed of hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol)-terephthalate (PEGT) blocks and hydrophobic poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) blocks. Vitamin B12 loaded films were prepared by using a water-in-oil emulsion method. The copolymer properties, like permeability, could be varied by increasing the PEG-segment length from 300 up to 4,000 g/mol and by changing the wt% of PEGT. From permeation and release experiments. the diffusion coefficient of vitamin B12 through PEGT/PBT films of different compositions was determined. The diffusion coefficient of Vitamin B12 was strongly dependent on the composition of the copolymers. Although an increased wt% of PEGT (at a constant PEG-segment length) resulted in a higher diffusion coefficient, a major effect was observed at increasing PEG-segment length. By varying the copolymer composition, a complete release of vitamin B12 in 1 day up to a constant release for over 12 weeks was obtained. The release rate could be effectively tailored by blending copolymers with different PEG-segment lengths. The swelling and the crystallinity of the matrix could explain the effect of the matrix composition on the release behavior.

MeSH terms

  • Biocompatible Materials*
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Polyesters / chemistry*
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry*
  • Polymers / chemistry
  • Time Factors
  • Vitamin B 12 / chemistry*
  • Vitamin B 12 / pharmacokinetics*

Substances

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Polyesters
  • Polymers
  • poly(1,4-butylene terephthalate)
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Vitamin B 12