Uniform biodegradable microparticle systems for controlled release

Drug delivery methods can impact efficacy as much as the nature of the drug itself. Microparticles made of biodegradable polymers such as poly(D,l-lactide-co-glycolide) and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) have been studied extensively for controlled release of diverse drugs. By using a modified solvent extraction/evaporation method called precision particle fabrication (PPF), uniform microparticles such as single-wall microspheres, double-wall microspheres and liquid-core microcapsules have been fabricated with precise control of their geometric structures. By producing particles of uniform size, which has crucial impact on drug release behaviors, PPF-fabricated microparticles provide unique insights about drug release mechanism. Using small-molecule and macromolecule model drugs, our group demonstrated that physicochemical properties of the polymers and drugs and structural properties of the matrix can greatly impact drug distribution within microparticles, particle erosion and drug release rates. By careful selection of particle size and shell thickness, uniform microparticles can achieve “zero-order”, pulsatile or tandem release of drugs.