Production of loaded PMMA structures using the supercritical CO2 phase inversion process

Loaded poly (methyl methacrylate) porous structures have been prepared using a supercritical fluid-phase inversion process in which CO2 acts as the nonsolvent. We preliminary tested the possibility of producing PMMA porous structures using the supercritical fluid assisted phase inversion process; experiments were performed at various polymer concentrations, temperatures and pressures using two different solvents: dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and acetone. Then, we prepared PMMA structures loaded with an antibiotic, amoxicillin, using two different techniques: dissolving it in the same organic solvent used to solubilize the polymer or suspending the drug in the organic solution formed by polymer and solvent. The obtained porous structures, produced at various drug loading, were characterized by SEM, to study the morphology and cells size, and by DSC to analyze the interaction of drug-polymer in the structure. Some drug release rate analysis from the structure was also performed observing very different release behaviors depending on the solution/suspension process adopted. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.