(325c) Formation of Cyclodextrin-Drug Inclusion Compounds and Polymeric Drug Delivery Systems Using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide

Biodegradable polymeric scaffolds are important for tissue engineering and biomedical device applications. Impregnation of polymeric scaffolds with pharmaceutical agents, including non-steroidal anti-flammatory drugs, is an approach to prevent inflammation and infection at the site of administration in the body. In addition, drug delivery profiles have been shown to be dependent on the morphology of the polymeric scaffold.  Our current research effort focuses on the formation of polymeric scaffold matrices that incorporate cyclodextrin-drug inclusion complexes as the in-situ drug delivery component. Two methodologies are being pursued. One is to incorporate cyclodextrins into biodegradable polymers which can then be transformed into scaffolds. The other is to employ polymeric cyclodextrins that can be transformed into scaffolds. Supercritical carbon dioxide is being explored as the primary processing fluid in all stages including the complex formation, impregnation/blending of the polymer with the complex, and the foaming of the polymer matrix to generate scaffolds with different morphologies.  This paper will present our recent results with ibuprofen, piroxicam, β-cyclodextrin, poly(lactide-co-glycolide),  poly(Ɛ-caprolactone), and β-cyclodextrin-based polymer systems.