Experimental Studies and Modeling of the Degradation Process of Poly(Lactic-<i>co</i>-Glycolic Acid) Microspheres for Sustained Protein Release

In this study, poly(lactic-<i>co</i>-glycolic acid) microspheres (PLGA MS)for controlled protein release by double emulsion-solvent evaporation were produced and characterized for their morphological and technological features. MS autocatalytic degradation was described by a mathematical...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Paolo Antonio Netti, Marco Biondi, Mariaenrica Frigione
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-09-01
Series:Polymers
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/12/9/2042
Description
Summary:In this study, poly(lactic-<i>co</i>-glycolic acid) microspheres (PLGA MS)for controlled protein release by double emulsion-solvent evaporation were produced and characterized for their morphological and technological features. MS autocatalytic degradation was described by a mathematical model based on a Michaelis and Menten-like chemical balance. Here, for the first time MS degradation was correlated to the advancement of MS degradation front with respect to the degraded radius, derived from mass loss experiments. The model can satisfactorily describe the kinetics of advancement of the degradation front experimentally derived for all MS formulations, especially when produced at higher PLGA concentrations.
ISSN:2073-4360