Dipyridamole-loaded poly (L-latide) single crystals as drug delivery systems

POly(L-lactide) (PLLA) single crystals grown from dilute solution were employed for the first time in the preparation of drug delivery systems. PLLA single crystals were selectively hydrolyzed with HCl to provide the lamellar surface with carboxylic groups, which were employed to graft Dipyridamole (Dip), chosen as a model drug. The influence of the hydrolysis conditions on the single crystals properties was investigated by FT-IR, DSC and GPC measurements, while Dip grafting yield and drug release in lipase solution were followed by UV-vis spectroscopy. Dip was slowly delivered over a few days, suggesting the potential use of PLIA single crystals as controlled drug release carries for either oral or parenteral injection administration.