Production of biodegradable porous scaffolds impregnated with 5-fluorouracil in supercritical CO2

• Published in: The Journal of supercritical fluids Vol. 80; pp. 1 - 8
• Main Authors: Cabezas, L.I., Gracia, I., García, M.T., de Lucas, A., Rodríguez, J.F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01-08-2013
• Subjects: 5-Fluorouracil; Foams; Poly(d,l-lactide); Poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide); Supercritical CO2; Tissue engineering; Foams; Poly(d,l-lactide); 5-Fluorouracil; Tissue engineering; Supercritical CO2; Poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide)
• ISSN: 0896-8446; 1872-8162
• DOI: 10.1016/j.supflu.2013.03.030

•Biodegradable PLA/PLGA foams impregnated with 5-fluorouracil in scCO2 were studied.•High values of stirring rate favour the drug loading of foams.•Little pore sizes are obtained by means of slow depressurization rates.•Composition influences the mechanical resistance, being the PLA foams more fragile.•The best conditions resulted: PLGA, high stirring rate and slow depressurization.
Supercritical fluid technology was tested to produce biodegradable porous probes impregnated with an antineoplasic drug that once conformed could be used as scaffolds as an alternative to traditional methods of preparation. The impregnation of 5-fluorouracil, a chemotherapy agent, was carried-out at the same time to the foaming process in a one-shot procedure. The polymer foam probes were based on d,l-lactide and glycolide and prepared varying the operating conditions. The homopolymer poly(d,l-lactide) and the copolymer poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) were used as base materials. The influence of stirring speed and venting rate on the drug loading and the average pore size were evaluated in order to optimize the impregnation process.
Venting rate revealed to be the most important factor affecting the probes pore size and their morphology. Slow venting rates should be used to promote small pores in order to retard the drug release from the polymeric matrix. Fast stirring rates improves the impregnation process because favours the contact between supercritical CO2 and the swelled polymer. The presence of glycolide enhanced the mechanical strength of the foam preventing pore collapse. This fact together with the possibility of regulating the rate of the scaffold degradation and the kinetics of drug release makes the usage of the copolymer more attractive for a further medical application.