PLA/F68/dexamethasone implants prepared by hot-melt extrusion for controlled release of anti-inflammatory drug to implantable medical devices: I. Preparation, characterization and hydrolytic degradation study.

Dexamethasone (Dex)-loaded implants were prepared by poly(d,l-lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(propylene glycol)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) copolymer (PEG-PPG-PEG, Pluronic F68) using hot-melt extrusion method. The purpose of this research was to develop a hot-melt extruded implant PLA/F68/Dex for controlling release of Dex at the implant site. Drug loading and encapsulation efficiency were determined by UV spectrophotometer analysis. The maximum value of the drug loading and encapsulation efficiency for the implants was up to 48.9% and 97.9%, respectively. Differential scanning calorimetry was used to evaluate stability and interaction between the implant and drug. We had studied the water uptake of PLA/F68 implants kept constant at about 12% due to the water was absorbed to a large extent. Dex release profile in vitro was studied, and the results showed that the maximum value of the release rate was approximately 20%. The degradation behavior was confirmed by mass loss and scanning electron microscopy. In addition, the in vivo biocompatibility study indicated that the implants had no negative influence as a foreign material in the body response.