Polymer Bulletin, cilt.81, sa.18, ss.16853-16874, 2024 (SCI-Expanded)
This study focuses on the evaluation and the drug release characteristics of a new coated matrix membrane (CMM) system, particularly emphasizing drug delivery from porous systems that offer more precise release control, especially for drugs with narrow therapeutic indexes (NTIs), such as theophylline. The parameters affecting the delivery of theophylline from the CMM were systematically studied. In the study, ethyl cellulose (ETC) served as the coating polymer, while poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) was selected as the pore-forming agent. Poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) was used as the base polymer in the preparation of matrix membranes, and poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) was preferred as the hydrophilicity balancing guest polymer. The effects of matrix membrane (MM) thickness, heat treatment temperature (HTT), coating layer thickness, drug loading concentration and coating layer porosity on the release rate of theophylline from CMM systems were all investigated. Additionally, the impacts of pH and temperature on theophylline release from CMM systems were examined. All experiments were conducted in vitro. By the study, 150 °C was determined as optimal HTT temperature. At more acidic pH values greater release rates were obtained. The release mechanism consistent with the Case I (Fickian) diffusion model and the activation energy for the permeation of theophylline through CMM systems was found as 62.355 J mol−1. As a result of the study, it was determined that the optimized CMM system with improved release properties can control the released amount of theophylline and it was proposed as a promising material for the dermal delivery of theophylline in vivo. Graphical abstract: A new drug delivery coated matrix membrane system for theophylline delivery. (Figure presented.)