5-Fluorouracil delivery from a novel three-dimensional micro-device: in vitro and in vivo evaluation

A novel three-dimensional biodegradable micro-device using microelectromechanical systems technology was developed for implantable controlled drug delivery. In order to evaluate the effect of monomer composition and molecular weight of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) on the drug release, three 5-Fluorouracil loaded micro-devices, made of 50/50, 27 kDa; 50/50, 40 kDa and 75/25 27 kDa PLGA, were prepared and characterized by in vitro and in vivo methods. The in vitro drug release from three micro-devices followed zero-order kinetics, and PLGA micro-device with the higher molecular weight and lactide/glycolide ratio tended to a longer sustained release period. The in vivo release results agreed with the in vitro results and drug release in vivo was faster than that in vitro for each of micro-devices. And three micro-devices showed different tumor inhibition effect in the tumor bearing mice. In addition, the SEM and weight loss experiments showed that PLGA micro-devices with lower molecular weight and lactide/glycolide ratio had faster degradation. These data provided the information for the optimization of the novel three-dimensional biodegradable micro-device to obtain more suitable systems for controlled release and to meet release requirements of different drugs.