Sustained drug delivery systems. I. The permeability of poly(ϵ‐caprolactone), poly(DL‐lactic acid), and their copolymers

Abstract

The maximum steady state flux, diffusion coefficients, and solubilities of five contraceptive steroids in homopolymers and copolymers of ϵ‐caprolactone and DL‐lactic acid were determined. The permeabilities of polymers of ϵ‐caprolactone were comparable to silicone rubber and, by inference, are suitable for the construction of drug delivery devices. Poly(DL‐lactic acid) was 10⁴ times less permeable, although its permeability was significantly enhanced by additives.