Sol-gel processing of drug delivery zirconia/polycaprolactone hybrid materials.

Poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL 6, 12 and 24 wt%) and zirconium (ZrO(2)) organic-inorganic hybrid materials have been synthesized by the sol-gel method from a multicomponent solution containing zirconium propoxide [Zr(OC(2)H(7))(4)], poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL), water, chloroform (CHCl(3)). Sodium ampicillin was incorporate in the hybrid materials to verify the effect as local controlled drug delivery system. The structure of interpenetrating network is realized by hydrogen bonds between Zr-OH group (H donator) in the sol-gel intermediate species and carboxylic group (H-acceptor) in the repeating units of the polymer. The presence of hydrogen bonds between organic/inorganic components of the hybrid material was proved by FTIR analysis. The morphology of the hybrid material was studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The structure of a molecular level dispersion has been disclosed by atomic force microscope (AFM), pore size distribution and surface measurements. The bioactivity of the synthesized hybrid material has been showed by the formation of a layer of hydroxyapatite on the surface of PCL/ZrO(2) samples soaked in a fluid simulating the composition of the human blood plasma. Release kinetics in a simulate body fluid (SBF) have been subsequently investigated. The amount of sodium ampicillin released has been detected by UV-VIS spectroscopy and SEM. The release kinetics seems to occur in more than one stage. HPLC analysis has also been taken to ensure the integrity of ampicillin after the synthetic treatment.