Evaluate Pentoxifylline Release from Polylactic Acid(PLA) Film

The objective of this study was to evaluate pentoxifylline release from polylactic acid (PLA) film. First, the polymeric film of polylactic acid of 50 % low and 50% high molecular weights with different drug loadings (20, 25, and 30%) was prepared without the plasticizer Dibutyl sebacate (DBS) to evaluate the drug (pentoxifylline) release from the polymeric matrix. Secondly, the plasticizer (DBS) with different levels (10, 20, and 30 %) was added to the formulation, and the drug release from the polymeric film was evaluated. Gel Permeation Chromatography GPC was used to characterize the molecular weight of the polylactic acid. Differential Scanning Calorimetry was used to characterize and study the thermal behavior of the film and the drug. Scanning Electron Microscopy was used to characterize the film surface at different drug loadings. X-ray powder diffraction was used to measure the crystal peaks of the drug and the polylactic acid. Since the drug release rate is dependent on drug loading and plasticizer level, different drug release rates can be obtained by controlling these parameters. The effect of the plasticizer on the drug release rate has a different effect based on the drug loading levels. At low drug loading levels (10 and 20%), as the plasticizer level increases, the drug release rate increases, while at high drug loading (60%), the drug release rate decreases as the plasticizer level increases.