Development of PMMA membranes functionalized with hydroxypropyl--cyclodextrins for controlled drug delivery using a supercritical CO2-assisted technology

Cyclodextrin-containing polymers have proved themselves to be useful for controlled release. Herein we describe the preparation of membranes of poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) containing hydroxypropyl- -cyclodextrins (HP--CDs) using a supercritical CO2-assisted phase inversion method, for potential application as drug delivery devices. Results are reported on the membrane preparation, physical properties, and drug elution profile of a model drug. The polymeric membranes were obtained with HP--CD contents ranging from 0 to 33.4 wt%, by changing the composition of the casting solution, and were further impregnated with ibuprofen using supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) in batch mode. The influence of the membrane functionalization in the controlled release of ibuprofen was studied by performing in vitro experiments in buffer solution pH at 7.4. The release of the anti-inflammatory drug could be tuned by varying the cyclodextrin content on the membranes.