Drug release mechanisms from bioerodible polymers for stent application

Abstract

The effect of the chemical nature of the drug on matrix degradation and drug release behavior of degradable polymers was studied, using lidocaine as a model drug in base and salt forms. As matrices, a range of lactide/glycolide based polymers was studied, representing variation in composition, crystallinity and molecular weight. We showed in this study that the drug in the base form has a substantial effect on the release characteristics, through an accelerating effect on matrix degradation. Study of drug release from PdlLGA showed that lidocaine salt followed a triphasic release pattern, in contrast to the biphasic release of the lidocaine.