PREPARATION AND EVALUATION OF THE IN VITRO DRUG RELEASE PROPERTIES OF NOVEL MATRIX OF LOW MOLECULAR WEIGHT PLLA

This work studied the behavior of a poly(L-lactic acid)-based polymer with low molecular weight (LMW PLLA), synthesized by azeotropic condensation of L-lactic acid and used as a carrier matrix. For that, ibuprofen (IBF)-loaded polymer matrices were prepared by using physical mixtures (PMs) and solid dispersions (SDs). The possible interactions between IBF and LMW PLLA were investigated, using SEM, XRD, and FT-IR. The release of IBF from LMW PLLA matrices was also examined. The mechanism of drug release was found to be a drug diffusion through the LMW PLLA matrix, and that the interactions between IBF and LMW PLLA appeared to be via hydrogen bonding. On the basis of the results obtained, it was concluded that solid dispersion is a good approach to enhance bioavailability of poorly-soluble ibuprofen.