PAKISTAN VETERINARY JOURNAL

Pak Vet J, xxxx, xx(x) xxx-xxx

Biodegradable Polycaprolactone/Polyethylene Glycol/Chitosan Intravaginal Implants for Progesterone Delivery: A Preliminary Study on Physicochemical Properties, Release Kinetics, and Biocompatibility

Elma Yuliani Yessa¹, Santoso¹, Herdis¹, Nuning Aisah², Nendar Herdianto², Pradita Iustitia Sitaresmi¹, Gunanti³, Ietje Wientarsih⁴, Deni Noviana³, Syafiqah Saidin^5,6, Bambang Purwantara⁷, Amrozi⁷ and Mokhamad Fakhrul Ulum^7,*

¹Research Center for Animal Husbandry, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Cibinong, Bogor, West Java, 16911, Indonesia; ²Research Center for Advanced Material, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Jakarta, 10340, Indonesia; ³Division of Surgery and Radiology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, IPB University, Kampus IPB Dramaga, Bogor, West Java, 16680, Indonesia; ⁴Veterinary Pharmacy Sub Division, School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, IPB University, Bogor 16680, Indonesia; ⁵Department of Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia; ⁶IJN-UTM Cardiovascular Engineering Centre, Institute of Human Centered Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia; ⁷Division of Reproduction and Obstetrics, School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, IPB University, Bogor, West Java, 16680, Indonesia

*Corresponding author: ulum@apps.ipb.ac.id

Abstract

The need for sustainable intravaginal drug-delivery systems in veterinary reproduction is increasing day by day. However, most intravaginal devices currently available in the market rely on non-biodegradable polymers. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate biodegradable progesterone implants composed of polycaprolactone (PCL), polyethylene glycol (PEG) and chitosan. Three formulations (10/72/18, 20/64/16 and 30/56/14% PCL/PEG/chitosan) were fabricated via melt molding and characterized for morphology, mechanical strength, degradation in simulated vaginal fluid (SVF), progesterone release, cytocompatibility, and environmental compost biodegradation. Statistical analysis was conducted using ANOVA followed, by Tukey’s post-hoc test to identify significant differences among implant formulations. Implant I (10/72/18% PCL/PEG/chitosan) demonstrated the highest porosity (11.9%; P<0.05), fastest degradation (23% remaining after 10 days of immersion in SVF; P<0.05), and a favourable biphasic progesterone release profile with excellent HeLa cell viability (73% after 24h exposure; P<0.05). Implant II (20/64/16% PCL/PEG/chitosan) showed steady progesterone release, whereas Implant III (30/56/14% PCL/PEG/chitosan) exhibited an initial burst, followed by prolonged retention. In compost, degradation ranged from complete fragmentation (Implant I) to minimal change (Implant III) after 40 days of burial in compost (P<0.05). Preliminary in vivo evaluation in four prepubertal Friesian Holstein cyclic heifers confirmed that Implant I was stable, non-inflammatory, and capable of elevating plasma progesterone levels to physiological levels. In conclusion, PCL/PEG/chitosan-based intravaginal system (10/72/18% PCL/PEG/chitosan) is promising biodegradable platform for controlled veterinary hormone delivery and might have potential applications in estrus synchronization in domestic animals.

To Cite This Article: Yessa EY, Santoso, Herdis, Aisah N, Herdianto N, Sitaresmi PI, Gunanti, Wientarsih I, Noviana D, Saidin S, Purwantara B, Amrozi and Ulum MF, 2026. Biodegradable polycaprolactone/polyethylene glycol/chitosan intravaginal implants for progesterone delivery: a preliminary study on physicochemical properties, release kinetics, and biocompatibility. Pak Vet J. http://dx.doi.org/10.29261/pakvetj/2026.003

Abstract

ISSN 0253-8318 (Print)ISSN 2074-7764 (Online)

ISSN 0253-8318 (Print)
ISSN 2074-7764 (Online)