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Release data for several dyes from untreated, water-annealed, and methanol-treated silk films are collected and modeled. Through modeling, Fickian diffusion is identified as the major release mechanism. Estimated diffusivities are compared with dye properties to characterize parameter-property relationships. FTIR-ATR spectra of the silk films confirm an increase in the crystalline beta-sheet content within the silk films for methanol-treated and water-annealed films. An aqueous binding study is completed and shows weak binding of three dyes to the silk films. The Langmuir equation is fit to each of the binding curves and compared. The rate of diffusion from silk films is highly impacted by the molecular structure, water solubility, and molecular charge of the releasing solute and the matrix crystallinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) has been the most successful polymeric biomaterial used in controlled drug delivery systems. There are several different chemical and physical properties of PLGA that impact the release behavior of drugs from PLGA delivery devices. These properties must be considered and optimized in the formulation of drug release devices. Mathematical modeling is a useful tool for identifying, characterizing, and predicting mechanisms of controlled release. The advantages and limitations of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) for controlled release are reviewed, followed by a review of current approaches in controlled-release technology that utilize PLGA. Mathematical modeling applied toward controlled-release rates from PLGA-based devices also will be discussed to provide a complete picture of a state-of-the-art understanding of the control that can be achieved with this polymeric system, as well as the limitations.

The controlled release of fluorescein-iso-thio-cyanate (FITC)-labeled dextrans from methanol-treated and untreated silk fibroin films was modeled to characterize the release kinetics and mechanisms. Silk films were prepared with FITC-dextrans of various molecular weights (4, 10, 20, 40 kDa). Methanol treatment was used to promote crystallinity. The release data were assessed with two different models, an empirical exponential equation commonly fit to release data and a mechanism-based semiempirical model derived from Fickian diffusion through a porous film. The FITC-dextran release kinetics were evaluated as a function of molecular weight and compared between the untreated- and methanol-treated films. For the empirical model, the estimated values of the model parameters decreased with the molecular weight of the analyte and showed no significant difference between untreated- and methanol-treated films. For the diffusion-based model, the estimated diffusion coefficient was smaller for the methanol-treated films than for the untreated films. Also, the diffusion coefficient was observed to decrease linearly with increasing molecular weight of the analyte. The percent of FITC-dextran loading entrapped and not released was less for the methanol-treated films than for untreated films and linearly increased with molecular weight. A linear regression was fit to the relationship between molecular weight and the percent of entrapped FITC-dextran particles. Using these defined linear relationships, we present an updated version of the diffusion model for simulating release of FITC-dextran of varied molecular weights from methanol-treated and untreated silk films.