Polycaprolactone microparticles and their biodegradation

Polycaprolactone (PCL) microparticles were prepared by an emulsification-so lvent evaporation technique using various stabilizers such as gelatin, hydr ophobically modified polyacrylamide derivative (PAM) and poly(vinyl alcohol ) (PVA). It was shown that the particle size distribution of PCL microparti cles was 13.4 +/- 4.7 (mu m) in diameter with gelatin as stabilizer. The de gradation behavior of the PCL microparticles was determined and compared wi th that of PCL film at pH 7.4 at 37 +/- 1 degrees C with and without lipase . The shape of PCL had no obvious effect on its degradation rate. It sugges ted that homogeneous degradation dominated the process. The degradation rat e of PCL microparticles was enhanced in the presence of lipase enzyme. The degree of crystallinity of PCL microparticles increased with degradation, p roving preferential degradation in amorphous domains of the PCL micropartic les. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.