Abstract
Tranilast, N- (3, 4-dimethoxycinnamoyl) anthranilic acid), which suppresses the fibro blast hyperpalsia, and poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL), a biodegradable polyester with a low melting point, were blended and melt spun to produce the drug releasing biodegradable fibers.
Thermal analyses, polarized optical microscope observation, and WAXD analyses revealed that tranilast existed as crystal in PCL solid at room temperature and dissolved in molten PCL at an elevated temperature. This tranilast acted either as a crystal nucleating agent or an impurity which obstracted the crystallization of PCL depending on the tranilast content and the thermal history.
Melt-spun fibers of PCL/tranilast blends had mechanical properties which deteriorated with increasing tranilast contents. The drug release rate decreased with increasing draw ratio. This seems to be attributable to high crystallinity of drawn fibers.
