Hydrolytic degradation characteristics of irradiated multi-layered PLGA films

Int J Pharm. 2008 Aug 6;360(1-2):228-30. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2008.04.017. Epub 2008 Apr 16.

Abstract

Poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) has been extensively investigated for controlled drug release. Because they undergo bulk degradation, they do not allow for a good controlled-release of drugs. The objective of this study is therefore to understand if a multi-layer-cum-irradiation technique would elicit surface erosion from PLGA polymers. A linear loss of mass and film thinning from PLGA films were observed. Also, the erosion of the top layer, of this multi-layered structure, accelerates degradation of the underlying layers. It is this effect that results in the observed pseudo-surface erosion for irradiated multi-layered PLGA.

MeSH terms

  • Chromatography, Gel
  • Excipients / chemistry*
  • Excipients / radiation effects
  • Hydrolysis
  • Lactic Acid / chemistry*
  • Lactic Acid / radiation effects
  • Membranes, Artificial
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Molecular Weight
  • Polyglycolic Acid / chemistry*
  • Polyglycolic Acid / radiation effects
  • Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer
  • Surface Properties
  • Water / chemistry

Substances

  • Excipients
  • Membranes, Artificial
  • Water
  • Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer
  • Polyglycolic Acid
  • Lactic Acid