Abstract
In this paper, a series of star-shaped poly(l-lactide)s (s-PLLA) were synthesized via ring-opening polymerization of l-lactide (LLA) using erythritol as initiator. The structure and properties of s-PLLA were characterized by 1H NMR, GPC and DSC. Then taking rifampicin (RIF) as the model drug, RIF-loaded s-PLLA microspheres were prepared using an oil-in-water emulsion solvent evaporation method. SEM and size analysis indicated that s-PLLA with high monomer/initiator molar ratios (s-PLLA98 and s-PLLA99) could form regular microspheres with smooth surface and have narrow size distributions, which hold the drugs well. The XRD spectra of the RIF-loaded microspheres demonstrated that s-PLLA and RIF were both in their amorphous state after the encapsulation process, which might be caused by the impediment effect of each other. The in vitro release profiles of the RIF-loaded microspheres showed that the s-PLLA99 microspheres were able to sustain the release of RIF for a considerable period of time (70–80 % within 180 h) and the release profiles of RIF from s-PLLA microspheres followed the Baker–Lonsdale model equation. Therefore, these biodegradable and biocompatible s-PLLA microspheres may find practical applications as drug delivery carriers.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Oh YJ, Lee J, Seo JY, Rhim T, Kim S-H, Yoon HJ, Lee KY (2011) Preparation of budesonide-loaded porous PLGA microparticles and their therapeutic efficacy in a murine asthma model. J Controlled Release 150:56–62
Ghassemi AH, van Steenbergen MJ, Talsma H, van Nostrum CF, Jiskoot W, Crommelin DJA, Hennink WE (2009) Preparation and characterization of protein loaded microspheres based on a hydroxylated aliphatic polyester, poly(lactic-co-hydroxymethyl glycolic acid). J Controlled Release 138:57–63
Fude C, Dongmei C, Anjin T, Mingshi Y, Kai S, Min Z, Ying G (2005) Preparation and characterization of melittin-loaded poly (dl-lactic acid) or poly (dl-lactic-co-glycolic acid) microspheres made by the double emulsion method. J Controlled Release 107:310–319
Samadi N, Abbadessa A, Di Stefano A, van Nostrum CF, Vermonden T, Rahimian S, Teunissen EA, van Steenbergen MJ, Amidi M, Hennink WE (2013) The effect of lauryl capping group on protein release and degradation of poly(d, l-lactic-co-glycolic acid) particles. J Controlled Release 172:436–443
Baimark Y, Srisa-ard M (2012) Preparation of drug-loaded microspheres of linear and star-shaped poly(d, l-lactide)s and their drug release behaviors. J Appl Polym Sci 124:3871–3878
Fredenberg S, Wahlgren M, Reslow M, Axelsson A (2011) The mechanisms of drug release in poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)-based drug delivery systems—a review. Int J Pharm 415:34–52
Zhang X, Wang C, Fang S, Sun J, Li C, Hu Y (2013) Synthesis and characterization of well-defined star PLLA with a POSS core and their microspheres for controlled release. Colloid Polym Sci 291:789–803
Rasal RM, Janorkar AV, Hirt DE (2010) Poly(lactic acid) modifications. Prog Polym Sci 35:338–356
Cameron DJA, Shaver MP (2011) Aliphatic polyester polymer stars: synthesis, properties and applications in biomedicine and nanotechnology. Chem Soc Rev 40:1761–1776
Dai X-H, Wang Z-M, Liu W, Dong C-M, Pan J-M, Yuan S-S, Y-s Yan, Liu D-M, Sun L (2014) Biomimetic star-shaped porphyrin-cored poly(l-lactide)-b-glycopolymer block copolymers for targeted photodynamic therapy. Colloid Polym Sci 292:2111–2122
Buwalda SJ, Dijkstra PJ, Calucci L, Forte C, Feijen J (2009) Influence of amide versus ester linkages on the properties of eight-armed PEG–PLA star block copolymer hydrogels. Biomacromolecules 11:224–232
Tsuji H, Miyase T, Tezuka Y, Saha SK (2004) Physical properties, crystallization, and spherulite growth of linear and 3-arm poly(l-lactide)s. Biomacromolecules 6:244–254
Qiu LY, Bae YH (2006) Polymer architecture and drug delivery. Pharm Res 23:1–30
McKee MG, Unal S, Wilkes GL, Long TE (2005) Branched polyesters: recent advances in synthesis and performance. Prog Polym Sci 30:507–539
Cai Q, Zhao Y, Bei J, Xi F, Wang S (2003) Synthesis and properties of star-shaped polylactide attached to poly (amidoamine) dendrimer. Biomacromolecules 4:828–834
Atkinson JL, Vyazovkin S (2013) Dynamic mechanical analysis and hydrolytic degradation behavior of linear and branched poly(l-lactide)s and poly(l-lactide-co-glycolide)s. Macromol Chem Phys 214:835–843
Atkinson JL, Vyazovkin S (2012) Thermal properties and degradation behavior of linear and branched poly(l-lactide)s and poly(l-lactide-co-glycolide)s. Macromol Chem Phys 213:924–936
Sakamoto Y, Tsuji H (2013) Crystallization behavior and physical properties of linear 2-arm and branched 4-arm poly(l-lactide)s: effects of branching. Polymer 54:2422–2434
Ouyang C, Liu Q, Zhao S, Ma G, Zhang Z, Song C (2012) Synthesis and characterization of star-shaped poly (lactide-co-glycolide) and its drug-loaded microspheres. Polym Bull 68:27–36
Lin Y, Zhang A (2010) Synthesis and characterization of star-shaped poly(d, l-lactide)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) copolymers. Polym Bull 65(9):883–892
Dong C-M, Qiu K-Y, Gu Z-W, Feng X-D (2001) Synthesis of star-shaped poly(ε-caprolactone)-b-poly(dl-lactic acid-alt-glycolic acid) with multifunctional initiator and stannous octoate catalyst. Macromolecules 34:4691–4696
Zou J, Chen X, Shu Y, Zhou H, Huang F (2011) Synthesis, characterization of star-shaped copolymers of l-lactide and epoxidized soybean oil. Polym Bull 66:315–326
Ristić I, Marinović-Cincović M, Cakić S, Tanasić L, Budinski-Simendić J (2013) Synthesis and properties of novel star-shaped polyesters based on l-lactide and castor oil. Polym Bull 70:1723–1738
Karikari AS, Edwards WF, Mecham JB, Long TE (2005) Influence of peripheral hydrogen bonding on the mechanical properties of photo-cross-linked star-shaped poly(d, l-lactide) networks. Biomacromolecules 6:2866–2874
Schömer M, Frey H (2011) Organobase-catalyzed synthesis of multiarm star polylactide with hyperbranched poly(ethylene glycol) as the core. Macromol Chem Phys 212:2478–2486
Cheng S, Yang L, Gong F (2010) Novel branched poly(l-lactide) with poly(glycerol-co-sebacate) core. Polym Bull 65:643–655
Mirończuk A, Furgała J, Rakicka M, Rymowicz W (2014) Enhanced production of erythritol by Yarrowia lipolytica on glycerol in repeated batch cultures. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol 41:57–64
Moon H-J, Jeya M, Kim I-W, Lee J-K (2010) Biotechnological production of erythritol and its applications. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 86:1017–1025
Duda A, Penczek S (1990) Thermodynamics of l-lactide polymerization. Equilibrium monomer concentration. Macromolecules 23:1636–1639
Gilchrist SE, Rickard DL, Letchford K, Needham D, Burt HM (2012) Phase separation behavior of fusidic acid and rifampicin in PLGA microspheres. Mol Pharm 9:1489–1501
Ruan G, Feng S-S (2003) Preparation and characterization of poly(lactic acid)–poly(ethylene glycol)–poly(lactic acid) (PLA–PEG–PLA) microspheres for controlled release of paclitaxel. Biomaterials 24:5037–5044
Gaignaux A, Réeff J, Siepmann F, Siepmann J, De Vriese C, Goole J, Amighi K (2012) Development and evaluation of sustained-release clonidine-loaded PLGA microparticles. Int J Pharm 437:20–28
Freitas MN, Marchetti JM (2005) Nimesulide PLA microspheres as a potential sustained release system for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Int J Pharm 295:201–211
Hu C, Feng H, Zhu C (2012) Preparation and characterization of rifampicin–PLGA microspheres/sodium alginate in situ gel combination delivery system. Colloids Surf B 95:162–169
Siepmann J, Siepmann F (2012) Modeling of diffusion controlled drug delivery. J Controlled Release 161:351–362
Arvanitoyannis I, Nakayama A, Kawasaki N, Yamamoto N (1995) Novel star-shaped polylactide with glycerol using stannous octoate or tetraphenyl tin as catalyst: 1. Synthesis, characterization and study of their biodegradability. Polymer 36:2947–2956
Arvanitoyannis I, Nakayama A, Psomiadou E, Kawasaki N, Yamamoto N (1996) Synthesis and degradability of a novel aliphatic polyester based on l-lactide and sorbitol: 3. Polymer 37:651–660
Freiberg S, Zhu XX (2004) Polymer microspheres for controlled drug release. Int J Pharm 282:1–18
Gottschalk C, Frey H (2006) Hyperbranched polylactide copolymers. Macromolecules 39:1719–1723
D’Aurizio E, van Nostrum CF, van Steenbergen MJ, Sozio P, Siepmann F, Siepmann J, Hennink WE, Di Stefano A (2011) Preparation and characterization of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) microspheres loaded with a labile antiparkinson prodrug. Int J Pharm 409:289–296
Chen Y, Yang Z, Liu C, Wang C, Zhao S, Yang J, Sun H, Zhang Z, Kong D, Song C (2013) Synthesis, characterization, and evaluation of paclitaxel loaded in six-arm star-shaped poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid). Int J Nanomed 8:4315–4326
Zhao Y, Wang Z, Yang F (2005) Characterization of poly(d, l-lactic acid) synthesized by direct melt polymerization and its application in chinese traditional medicine compound prescription microspheres. J Appl Polym Sci 97:195–200
Li X, Chang S, Du G, Li Y, Gong J, Yang M, Wei Z (2012) Encapsulation of azithromycin into polymeric microspheres by reduced pressure-solvent evaporation method. Int J Pharm 433:79–88
Liu R, Huang S-S, Wan Y-H, Ma G-H, Su Z-G (2006) Preparation of insulin-loaded PLA/PLGA microcapsules by a novel membrane emulsification method and its release in vitro. Colloids Surf B 51:30–38
Zeng X, Tao W, Mei L, Huang L, Tan C, Feng S-S (2013) Cholic acid-functionalized nanoparticles of star-shaped PLGA–vitamin E TPGS copolymer for docetaxel delivery to cervical cancer. Biomaterials 34:6058–6067
Acknowledgments
This work was financed by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51403003), Anhui Provincial Natural Science Foundation (1408085ME86, 1508085QE105), Scientific Research Fund of Anhui Provincial Education Department (KJ2013A014), Startup Foundation for Doctors of Anhui University, Anhui Province Institute of High Performance Rubber Materials and Products and the 211 Project of Anhui University.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding authors
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Teng, L., Nie, W., Zhou, Y. et al. Synthesis and characterization of star-shaped poly(l-lactide)s with an erythritol core and evaluation of their rifampicin-loaded microspheres for controlled drug delivery. Polym. Bull. 73, 97–112 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-015-1474-5
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-015-1474-5