The development of 5-fluorouracil biodegradable implants: A comparative study of PCL/PLGA blends

Chemotherapy is commonly used in cancer treatment, following resection surgery to reduce recurrence. Systemic administration results in severe side effects, therefore, the concept of drug-eluting implants was adopted, especially biodegradable scaffolds to eliminate the need for additional procedures for removal. Polycaprolactone (PCL) and Poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) are biodegradable polymers that showed potential in extended-release drug delivery systems. Their blends combine their benefits, particularly mechanical properties, degradation, and drug release profiles. However, blending these polymers without risking phase separation is challenging. This research presents the development of solvent-cast films composed of different ratios of PCL: PLGA. The blending efficiency was assessed by Fourier Transform Infrared analysis and thermal assessments such as differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. As PCL is a slow-degrading polymer, the addition of PLGA increased its degradation rate. 5-Fluorouracil (5FU) was used as a model drug and loaded to the blended films, the influence of the ratio of PLGA, percentage of plasticizer, and 5FU loading on the drug release profile was investigated. It was evident that formulations with higher PLGA and plasticizer concentrations showed a reduced burst effect whereas higher 5FU loading resulted in an increased rate of release.