Enobong R Essien1 
,
Oludare F Tolulope1,
Cordelia U Dueke-Eze2,
Violette N Atasie1,
Ngozi A Adeleye1,
Rahmot D Adewole1
For correspondence:- Enobong Essien Email: eressien@bellsuniversity.edu.ng
Received: 5 January 2026 Accepted: 13 May 2026 Published: 31 May 2026
Citation: Essien ER, Tolulope OF, Dueke-Eze CU, Atasie VN, Adeleye NA, Adewole RD. Release profile of oxytetracycline from a bioactive glass/polycaprolactone composite prepared using Phaeodactylum tricornutum. Trop J Pharm Res 2026; 25(5):627-635 doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/tjpr.v25i5.4
© 2026 The authors.
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Purpose: To evaluate the drug release profile of oxytetracycline (OTC) incorporated into a bioactive glass/polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffold. Methods: Bioactive glass/polycaprolactone composite was prepared by solvent casting technique at a ratio of bioactive glass: PCL 1:1 and 1:2, and OTC was added at equal concentrations. Drug release and degradability were tested by incubating the samples in simulated body fluid (SBF) for 6 hours and 28 days, respectively. The release profile was evaluated using an ultraviolet (UV) spectrophotometer at a wavelength of 268 nm. Drug incorporation was assessed by using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results: The bioactive glass: PCL delivery system developed with a 1:1 combination ratio released 25.58 % OTC after 6 hours in SBF, and with a cumulative weight loss of 15.73 % after 28 days. The bioactive glass: PCL prepared at 1:2 weight % released 18.49 % in 3 hours and displayed a sustained release profile while exhibiting a cumulative weight loss of 8.10 % after 28 days in SBF. Conclusion: The method reported in this study could be useful for fabricating a scaffold applicable in bone regeneration and having a controlled or sustained drug delivery capability.
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