Comparison of Native and Modified Biopolymer Blends and Their Potential as Sustained Delivery System for Tolfenamic Acid

Abstract

Biocompatible and biodegradable polymers are becoming more and more attractive and desired platforms for the development of novel and composite materials. However, some of them are naturally insoluble in water, which is their main drawback and affects their whole behavior. To address this problem and make them porous and, therefore, more hydrophilic, different approaches have been proposed, such as plasma treatment, etching, and chemical modification. The present study is focused on the potential of poly (ethylene glycol) as pore-forming in casted films made out of poly(lactic acid), poly(ε-caprolactone), and their blends at three different ratios. These porous films were compared with the same blends but without modification. The effect of poly (ethylene glycol) on the general mechanical properties as Young modulus, load, stress, and strain at upper yield was evaluated. Additionally, the influence of the formed pores and the ability of the films to get charged was established, as they were corona treated with positive and negative polarity. After this treatment, all of the developed variations were used as a base for multilayer film formation between chitosan and casein. The release profiles out of the as formed layer-by-layer structures for active compound (tolfenamic acid) were investigated.