Influence of alpha-Al2O3 morphology and particle size on drug release from ceramic/polymer composites

In order to test the influence of ceramic morphology and particle size on the behaviour of the ceramic/polymer/drug composite alpha-Al2O3/poly(L-lactic acid)/poly(methyl methacrylate)/ibuprofen (alpha-Al2O3/PLLA/PMMA/IB) containing the antiinflammatory drug ibuprofen, have been studied. We have used alpha-alumina synthesised by two preparation methods which provide different morphologies and particle sizes. The influence of these parameters on the ibuprofen release process after the immersion of composites in a buffered solution at pH = 7.4 at 37 degrees C was analysed. The results obtained show that drug release is facilitated in the samples which have smaller particle size, with spherical morphology and a homogeneous size distribution of alpha-alumina.