Study of controlled release of ibuprofen magnetic nanocomposites

•Controlled drug delivery (CDD) systems allow the kinetic and spatial control of the release.•These systems are often obtained using magnetic nanoparticles, biodegradable and biocompatible polymers.•Polylactic acid (PLA) is the matrix of the ibuprofen CDD system here presented.•Ibuprofen CDD system was prepared by melting mixing•The in vitro profile study of drug release showed to be sustained and prolonged.•The presence of magnetite is changing the porosity of the matrix, speeding up the drug release. Through the controlled drug delivery systems, it is possible to have a kinetic and spatial control of the release, which has numerous advantages. To obtain such controlled drug delivery systems, magnetic nanoparticles, biodegradable and biocompatible polymers such as polylactic acid (PLA) are often used. Here, the controlled drug delivery system was prepared inserting ibuprofen and magnetite nanoparticles into the PLA matrix by fusion. When ibuprofen is inserted into this magnetic nanocomposite, this system will have the combination of two very advantageous effects, the increase of half-life, promoted by the kinetic control (polymer) and decrease of toxicity promoted by the spatial control (magnetite). As consequence, this new system can improve patient compliance and comfort making the treatment more efficient. For obtention of the desired nanocomposite, PLA was synthesized by polycondensation from L-lactic acid and the nanoparticle by coprecipitation. The polymer had its molar mass determined via size exclusion chromatography (SEC), while the nanocomposites, containing and not containing magnetite, were characterized via Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and magnetic force test. Dissolution tests were carried out to verify the capacity of the controlled delivery system prepared. Dissolution was monitored and quantified by ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry (UV-Vis). Through these tests, it was observed that the nanoparticle's magnetic force is not altered when inserted in PLA / drug systems and that the drug release profile was sustained, varying in the absence and presence of magnetite.