Characterizing Release in Electrospun PCL Capsules: Preliminary Findings for Future Model Design

Engineering controlled drug release is a biomedical research interest due to its many clinical applications including: disease targeting, sustained release, and eliminating the need for repeating dosages. For example, in veterinary medicine, there is a need for a long-lasting and reversible contraceptive option for large and small animals. A device made of electrospun material is proposed to provide longer lasting release of Deslorelin, gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist than current conceptive devices. Engineering this capsule-based device requires an understanding of the polymer components, one of which will be a layer of electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL). The short-term release of a specific fluorescent dye, Rose Bengal, through a single layer of sintered electrospun PCL was quantified in two solutions: distilled water and phosphate buffered saline (PBS). The results showed that the PBS solution significantly (p=0.0006) impacted the release of the dye. PBS induced an average flux of 0.009 ng/mm2-day while the flux in solution without PBS was essentially nil. These results prompted further investigation and a literature review of available drug release models to create a better understanding of the plausible mechanisms of release. The implication of this investigation is that diffusion may not be the only significant contributor to the release through these capsules, as is often assumed.No embargoAcademic Major: Biomedical Engineerin