In vitro evaluation of sustained drug release from biodegradable elastomer.

Poly(DL-lactic acid) (PLA), poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL), and their copolymers (PLA-CL) with various monomer compositions were synthesized, and their properties as matrix for the sustained release of drugs were evaluated. The copolymerization technique produced very soft films which incorporated the drugs without deterioration of the elastic properties. Cisplatin and MD-805 were loaded in the films by casting the polymer solution containing the drugs. Fractions of the drugs released from the PLA-CL films were governed by the initial loading, the film thickness, and the polymer molecular weight. The drug release profiles obeyed the classical Fickian diffusion equation at least in the early stage, but significant hydrolytic degradation of the matrix polymers occurred in the later stage, influencing the kinetics of drug release. The monomer composition of copolymer affected the release profile more strongly than the initial molecular weight of the copolymer.