Hydrophilic Polyester Microspheres: Effect of Molecular Weight and Copolymer Composition on Release of BSA

PURPOSE: To study the release of a model protein, bovine serum albumin (BSA), from microspheres of an hydroxylated aliphatic polyester, poly(lactic-co-hydroxymethyl glycolic acid) (PLHMGA). METHODS: BSA-loaded microspheres were prepared by a double emulsion solvent evaporation method. The effect of copolymer composition and the molecular weight of the copolymer on in vitro release and degradation were studied. The integrity of the released BSA was studied by fluorescence spectroscopy and size exclusion chromatography (SEC). RESULTS: Microspheres prepared from PLHMGA with 50% hydroxymethyl glycolic acid (HMG) showed a burst release followed by a sustained release in 5–10 days. PLHMGA microspheres prepared from a copolymer with 35% and 25% HMG showed a sustained release of BSA up to 80% for 30 and 60 days, respectively. The release of BSA was hardly affected by the molecular weight of the polymer. Fluorescence spectroscopy and SEC showed that the released BSA preserved its structural integrity. Microspheres were fully degradable, and the degradation time increased from ~20 days to 60 days when the HMG content decreased from 50% to 25%. CONCLUSIONS: Taking the degradation and release data together, it can be concluded that the release of BSA from PLHMGA microspheres is governed by degradation of the microspheres.