Phase-separated polymer blends for controlled drug delivery by tuning morphology
Abstract Controlling drug release rate and providing physical and chemical stability to the active pharmaceutical ingredient are key properties of oral solid dosage forms. Here, we demonstrate a formulation strategy using phase-separated polymer blends where the morphology provides a route for tuning the drug release profile. By utilising phase separation of a hydrophobic and a hydrophilic polymer, the hydrophilic component will act as a channelling agent, creating a porous network upon dissolution that will dictate the release characteristics. With ptychographic X-ray tomography and scanning transmission X-ray microscopy we reveal how the morphology depends on both polymer fraction and presence of drug, and how the drug is distributed over the polymer domains. Combining X-ray imaging results with dissolution studies reveal how the morphologies are correlated with the drug release and showcase how tuning the morphology of a polymer matrix in oral formulations can be utilised as a method for controlled drug release.
Authors
- Aleksandar Matic (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4414-9504)
- Ana Díaz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0479-4752)
- Marianne Liebi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5403-0593)
- Yang Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4643-646X)
- Leonard Krupnik (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6869-5262)
- R. S. Storm
- Benjamin Watts (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2330-2338)
- Anette Larsson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6119-8423)
- Mirko Holler (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8141-0148)
- Polina Naidjonoka (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4424-0594)
- Martina Olsson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2878-6239)
- Linnéa Björn (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8153-2129)
- Viktor Lilja (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-8887-1463)
Institutions
- University of Fribourg (CH)
- Paul Scherrer Institute (CH)
- Wallenberg Wood Science Center (SE)
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (CH)
- Chalmers University of Technology (SE)
- Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (CH)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Communications Materials
- Published
- 2024-10-18
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s43246-024-00678-y
- Citations
- 6
- Primary Topic
- Drug Solubulity and Delivery Systems
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.25
Funders
- European Soft Matter Infrastructure
- European Commission
- Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung
- Chalmers Tekniska Högskola
- Ministerul Educaţiei Naţionale
- Paul Scherrer Institut
- Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Area of Advance, Chalmers Tekniska Högskola
- Horizon 2020 Framework Programme