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The microclimate pH (µpH) in biodegradable polymers, such as poly(D,L-lactic-coglycolic acid) (PLGA) 50/50, commonly falls to deleterious acidic levels during biodegradation, resulting in instability of encapsulated acid-labile molecules. The µpH distribution in microspheres of a more hydrophilic polyester, poly(D,L-lactide-co-hydroxymethyl glycolide) (PLHMGA), was measured and compared to that in PLGA 50/50 of similar molecular weight and degradation time scales. pH mapping in the polymers was performed after incubation under physiological conditions by using a previously validated ratiometric confocal laser scanning microscopic (CLSM) method. Confocal µpH maps revealed that PLHMGA microspheres, regardless of copolymer composition, developed a far less acidic µpH during 4 weeks of incubation compared with microspheres from PLGA. A pH-independent fluorescent probe marker of polymer matrix diffusion of µpH-controlling water-soluble acid degradation products, bodipy, was observed by CLSM to diffuse ~3–7 fold more rapidly in PLHMGA compared to PLGA microspheres, consistent with much more rapid release of acids observed from the hydrophilic polymer during bioerosion. Hence, PLHMGA microspheres are less susceptible to acidification during degradation as compared to similar PLGA formulations, and therefore, PLHMGA may be more suitable to deliver acid labile molecules such as proteins.

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PurposeTo investigate the in vitro release of octreotide acetate, a somatostatin agonist, from microspheres based on a hydrophilic polyester, poly(D,L-lactide-co-hydroxymethyl glycolide) (PLHMGA).MethodsSpherical and non-porous octreotide-loaded PLHMGA microspheres (12 to 16 μm) and loading efficiency of 60–70% were prepared by a solvent evaporation. Octreotide release profiles were compared with commercial PLGA formulation (Sandostatin LAR®); possible peptide modification with lactic, glycolic and hydroxymethyl glycolic acid units was monitored.ResultsPLHMGA microspheres showed burst release (~20%) followed by sustained release for 20–60 days, depending on the hydrophilicity of the polymer. Percentage of released loaded peptide was high (70–90%); > 60% of released peptide was native octreotide. PLGA microspheres did not show peptide release for the first 10 days, after which it was released in a sustained manner over the next 90 days; > 75% of released peptides were acylated adducts.ConclusionsPLHMGA microspheres are promising controlled systems for peptides with excellent control over release kinetics. Moreover, substantially less peptide modification occurred in PLHMGA than in PLGA microspheres.Electronic Supplementary MaterialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11095-011-0517-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.