Controlled release from polyurethane films: Drug release mechanisms

In this study, polyurethane-films loaded diclofenac were used to analyze the drug release kinetics and mechanisms. For this purpose, the experimental procedures were developed under static and dynamic conditions with different initial drug loads of 10, 20, and 30%. In the dynamic condition, to better simulate the biological flow, drug release measurements were investigated at flow rates of 7.5 and 23.5 ml/s. These values indicate the flow rate of the internal carotid artery (ICA) for a normal state of a body and for a person during the exercise, respectively. The experimental data were analyzed and adjusted by Higuchi, Korsmeyer-Peppas, First-order, zero-order, and Peppas-Sahlin models in order to understand the mechanisms contributed. Finally, drug release mechanisms were specified by investigating the model correlation coefficients. Experimental results showed that increasing the flow rate and initial drug loads enhance drug liberation. In addition, the rate of release is more influenced by the drug dosage in the static state. The analysis revealed that diffusion, burst, and osmotic pressure are the principal mechanisms contributed. Moreover, Fickian type was the dominant mechanism at all duration of release. However, it was discovered using Peppas-Sahlin model that the contribution of the diffusion mechanism decreases with increasing flow rate and initial dosage. Furthermore, the tests at different drug dosages showed that the number of stages in medication release profile is independent of the flow rate and the medicine percentage. One can conclude that the drug release kinetic in static state is more influenced by drug dosage compared with dynamic state.

Automated summary

This study investigated the drug release kinetics and mechanisms of diclofenac loaded in polyurethane films under different initial drug loads and flow rates. Findings showed that higher flow rates and initial drug loads enhance drug liberation, with diffusion, burst, and osmotic pressure as the principal mechanisms. Fickian type was identified as the dominant mechanism, and the contribution of the diffusion mechanism decreases with increasing flow rate and initial dosage. Moreover, the number of stages in medication release profile is independent of flow rate and drug dosage.