Abstract
Background: We have recently reported on the synthesis, characterization and biocompatibility of a novel family of visible-light photocrosslinked poly(diol-co-tricarballylate) elastomers intended for use in drug delivery and tissue engineering applications. In this work, the osmotic-driven controlled release of the water-soluble drug, papaverine hydrochloride, from poly(decane-co-tricarballylate) elastomeric cylindrical monoliths is reported. We also examined the influence of various parameters such as the degree of prepolymer acrylation, crosslinking density and the incorporation of osmotic excipients such as trehalose on the release kinetics of the drug. Results: The release rate of papaverine hydrochloride was found to decrease in dissolution media of higher osmotic activity as an indication of the predominant involvement of the osmotic-driven release mechanism from the elastomeric devices. The drug release rate was also found to be dependent on the degree of macromer acrylation. Furthermore, it was found that coformulating papaverine hydrochloride with trehalose increases the release rate without altering the linear nature of the drug release kinetics. Conclusions: A new delivery vehicle composed of biodegradable poly(decane-co-tricarballylate) elastomers was demonstrated to be a promising and effective matrix for linear, constant and controllable osmotic-driven release of drugs.