Polycaprolactone—Eugenol systems: Interactions, retention and diffusion of the bioactive compound

Abstract

AbstractThe retention ability of polycaprolactone (PCL) films and their potential use for applications that require controlled release, were evaluated using eugenol, an aroma compound as a model active substance. The PCL‐eugenol samples were prepared by means of a low‐temperature extrusion process that resulted in minimum losses of eugenol and a final proportion close to nominal content. The release kinetics of eugenol were monitored for different conditions of temperature and relative humidity, both by an usual gas chromatography analysis but also by spectroscopy method that revealed sufficient. The release kinetics were compared to the numerical results obtained by the resolution of Fickian and a power‐law models. Results showed that the temperature had an influence on the release rate, and that the release kinetics were mostly Fickian. Moreover, the determination of the Arrhenius parameters will allow the use of the Fickian model to dimension PCL samples for other applications requiring controlled release.