Abstract
Highly porous poly(dl-lactic-co-glycolic acid) films with controlled release of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) as a model protein have been successfully developed and studied. These films, which are prepared by freeze-drying inverted emulsions, are designed for use in tissue-regeneration applications. The effects of the emulsion's formulation and host polymer's characteristics on the film's microstructure and HRP release profile over 4 weeks were investigated. A dual pore size population is characteristic for most films, with large 12-18 μm pores and small 1.5-7 μm pores, and porosity in the range of 76-92%. An increase in the polymer content and its initial molecular weight, organic/aqueous (O:A) phase ratio and lactic acid content, or a decrease in the HRP content, all resulted in a decreased burst effect and a more moderate release profile. A simultaneous change in two or three of these formulation parameters (compared to a reference formulation) resulted in a synergistic effect on the HRP release profile. A constant HRP release rate was achieved when a composite film was used. Human gingival fibroblast adhesion to the films indicated good biocompatibility. Appropriate selection of the emulsion's parameters can therefore yield highly porous films with the desired protein-release behavior which can serve as scaffolds for bioactive agents in tissue-regeneration applications.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1278-1287 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Acta Biomaterialia |
| Volume | 6 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Apr 2010 |
Keywords
- Horseradish peroxidase
- Human gingival fibroblasts
- Porous films
- Protein release
- Scaffolds