Skip to main content
. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2014 May 1.
Published in final edited form as: Biomaterials. 2013 Feb 27;34(15):3902–3911. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2013.02.015

Figure 8.

Figure 8

Schematic illustration of the proposed mechanism for the release of doxorubicin from double-walled PDLLA(PLGA) microspheres. PLGA core and PDLLA shell layer are represented by light and dark brown respectively, while doxorubicin molecules are represented by green dots. (a) and (b) show the degradation process of formulations A and B microspheres respectively. Stage I: Initial microspheres before degradation. Stage II: Water penetration into the microspheres and pore formation on the PDLLA shell layer. Stage III: Increase in the number and size of pores on the PDLLA shell layer, and rapid erosion of the PLGA core. Stage IV: Release of doxorubicin into the aqueous medium through pores and/or cavities of the microspheres.