DEVELOPMENT OF BIOPOLYMERIC MICROPARTICLES BY EMULSION METHOD FOR DRUG DELIVERY

ISLAN GA; VOLPE MF; CASTRO GR

Mar del Plata

Congreso; VIII Encuentro de Latinoamericano del Caribe de Biotecnología ? REDBIO2013; 2013

In the recent years, biopolymers have been extensively used in pharmaceutical industry. In the present work, biopolymeric microspheres were made by simple emulsification method followed by crosslinking via ionic gelation for drug delivery applications. Alginate, Pectin and Carrageenan were selected due to their desirable properties of being non toxic, no immunogenic and biocompatible. Synthesis of microspheres was optimized changing different parameters such as biopolymer type and concentration, surfactants or the organic medium (oleic acid, silicone oil, hexane, amylic alcohol, ethyl acetate, chloroform) where the biopolymers were dispersed. Microspheres ranging from 3 to 10 microns were observed by Optical Microscopy. The microparticles showed stability in aqueous solution with no aggregation. However, cryoprotectants (like sucrose or glycerol) were required to get dry solid microparticles, which they were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy. The carrier capability to encapsulate active substances was tested with loading of Ciprofloxacin (a broad spectrum antibiotic) and Doxorubicin (an anti-tumour drug). Incorporation was confirmed by Epifluorescence Microscopy. Release kinetics were carried on showing a fast Ciprofloxacin release around 80 % and a slow profile of 25 % for Doxorubicin in two hours under physiological conditions. The developed microspheres are showing a promissory system for drug delivery in several pathologies.