Controlled release of ibuprofen from PLA microspheres embedded within PVA hydrogels fabricated via two crosslinking strategies

Hydrogels are three-dimensional networks which their unique physical properties have sparked particular interest in their use in drug delivery applications. Despite their advantageousproperties, hydrogels also have several limitations including rapid drug release and restricted drug loading. We herebyfabricate a simple delivery platform based on poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogels containing ibuprofen-loaded poly (lactic acid) (PLA) microspheres to improve the releasekinetics of this model drug. γ-irradiation and freeze-thawing was applied to prepare poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogels. Morphological characteristics of microspheres and microsphere-incorporated hydrogels were also examined by SEM. In vitro release indicated that entrapment of themicrospheres into the PVA hydrogels causes a reduction in both the release rate and the initial burst effect whichsuggesting that PLA microspheres entrapped into the PVA hydrogels showed more suitable controlled release kinetics for drug delivery