Studying the Degradation of Poly(L-lactide) in Presence of Magnesium Hydroxide

Controlling the rate and behaviour of the biodegradable polymer matrix is importantin the development of drug delivery systems. In this project, we succeeded to controlthe speed of degradation and changing the degradation site from the bulk to the surface by addition of excipients. Antiacid excipients, such as Mg(OH)2 have significant effects on rate and behaviour of biodegradation, by neutralization of the acidic microclimate pH in polymer. We synthesized high molecular weight poly(L-lactide) by using tin- 2-ethyl hexanoate as catalyst. The polymer has been characterized by GPC, DSC and SEM. Mixtures of the polymer with Mg(OH)2 at 1, 3 and 5% w/w were prepared and the degradation of the samples, kept at in vitro condition after 3 and 6 months, were studied. The results of average molecular weight changes, thermal characteristics and morphology of samples after 3 and 6 months revealed that it is possible to redirect the bulk degradation towards su rface degradation. It is found that the ratio of bulk degradation to surface degradation and speed of degradation has reverse relationship with the additives concentration and when Mg(OH)2 increases, the speed of degradation decreases as well. In samples with Mg(OH)2, the polymer degradation rates were reduced by 2-3 folds and the percentage of crystallinity increased by maximum 90% (3% Mg(OH)2) after 6months.