Preparation and controlled release of poly (lactide-co-glycolide) containing nicotine

Abstract

Nicotine replacement therapy is widely used to treat nicotine withdrawal during smoking cessation. Nicotine transdermal patches, easily used by patients, can however cause swelling and itching in the area covered by the patch. These symptoms are perhaps caused by non-biocompatible adhesive material used in patches. To eliminate this problem, biomaterial for example, poly(L-lactic-co-glycolide) (PLLGA) was used in the preparation of controlled released nicotine transdermal patches in this study. Low molecular weight of poly(L-lactic acid) (low MW PLLA) was prepared by condensation polymerization of lactic acid. L-lactide was synthesized from thermal decomposition of low MW PLLA, Later, PLLGA copolymer was prepared by ring opening polymerization (ROP) of L-lactide and glycolide using different L-lactide and glycolide molar ratios. The effects of type and concentration of catalyst, polymerization time, temperature and molar ratio of L-lactide and glycolide were studied. Poly (vinyl alcohol) PVA was used in preparation with PLLGA copolymer film. It appears that the ratio of 0.5PLLGA/2PVA and 1.5PLLGA/2PVA at the L-lactide/glycolide copolymer molar ratio of 70/30 provided the minimum and maximum nicotine release of 738 and 5,072 ugcm-2h-1, respectively. The PLLGA blended PVA film containing 0.5PLLGA/2PVA at the L-lactide/glycolide copolymer ratio of 70/30 has the amount of nicotine release similar to that in marketed transdermal patch. Therefore it is suitable to be used in people who would like to stop smoking.