Raman microscopy validation of a computational model of drug release from a hydrophobic matrix

I.T. SEOANE; P.R. CORTEZ TORNELLO; J.P. TOMBA; A. CISILINO; G.A. ABRAHAM

Santa Fe

Congreso; XXIV Congreso sobre Métodos Numéricos y sus Aplicaciones, ENIEF 2019; 2019

ENIEF

Controlled drug delivery systems are efficient, versatile and safe means for the pharmacological treatment of human diseases. This work contemplates the mo deling of the release of a drug, embelin, from polycaprolactone (PCL) matrices, using a one dimensional finite difference method. Embelin is a therapeutic agent of natural origin, poorly soluble in water and presents various biological properties. PCL is a bioresorbable and biocompatible polyester. The model accounts for the combined effects of simultaneous diffusion of the embelin and water, and dissolution of the solid fraction of embelin within the wetted matrix. Swelling and erosion of the matrix into the release time were disregarded from the modelling due to the hydrophobicity and the high resistance to hydrolysis of PCL. The model assum es a dual initial dispersion of the embelin: well dispersed and agglomerated . Raman microscopy observations provide the information to characterize in dep th embelin spatial distribution at different release times The model obtained allowed to adjust the release behavior and identify the involved mechanisms.