Heterogeneous hydrolytic degradation of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) microspheres: mathematical modeling

BUSATTO, C. A.; PESOA, J. I.; HELBLING, I. M.; LUNA, J. A.; ESTENOZ, D. A.

JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE

JOHN WILEY & SONS INC

Lugar: New York; Año: 2017

0021-8995

A new mathematical model for the prediction of the heterogeneous hydrolytic degradation of PLGA-based microspheres was developed. The model takes into account the autocatalytic effect of carboxylic groups and polymer composition on the degradation rate. It is based on mass balances for the different species, considering the kinetic and mass transport phenomena involved. The model estimates the evolutions of average molecular weights, mass loss and morphological changes of particles during degradation, and it was validated with novel experimental data. Theoretical predictions are in agreement with hydrolysis data of PLGA microspheres (error values less than 5%). The model is able to predict the effect of particle size and molecular weight on the degradation of PLGA-based microspheres and estimates the morphological changes of the particles due to the autocatalytic effect.