Biopolymers as a novel vehicle for drugs using microencapsulation techniques

MASUELLI, M.; VEGA, E.D.; VASQUEZ, E.

Rosario

Congreso; IV Reunión Internacional de Ciencias Farmacéuticas; 2016

Biopolymers as a novel vehicle for active principles using microencapsulation techniquesVásquez, E.(1); Masuelli, M.(2); Vega, E.(1)(1) PROICO 2/1612 - INTEQUI - CONICET. (2) PROIPRO 2/2414 y 2/1916. INFAP - CONICET - Universidad Nacional de San Luis.E-mail: evega@unsl.edu.arMicroencapsulation can be defined as the process by which matrix systems are formed and used as carriers for packaging compounds with biological activity (as pharmaceuticals, probiotics, enzymes, proteins, nucleic acids, etc.). The materials used to build these transport systems are of diverse nature and could originate particles of micrometric size. Among this group, biopolymers have become of great interest since they are more stable and provide greater reproducibility, while promising to biodegrade easily, with faster rates than those of synthetic origin. The discovery of new biopolymers, in addition to novel techniques for the synthesis, purification and chemical modification of these substances, allow the protection of active principles during their journey inside the body and let them reach the target cell while exiting the microcapsule in a time-controlled way. The Xanthan gum is a biopolysaccharide produced by the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris and secreted to the extracellular space as a secondary metabolite during stationary phase of growth. In the present work we studied the formation of xanthan gum microespheres in a ferric chloride solution that acted as complexing agent. These microespheres were used to encapsulate paracetamol. The study of the release from the espheres was carried out working at room temperature and 37 ºC, in mediums of different pHs (simulated gastric medium: 1.2, simulated intestinal medium: 7.5). The results obtained led to the conclusion that the optimal drug release occurs at 37 ºC and pH 1.2. The percentage of released pharmaceutical under these circumstances corresponds to 43% of the encapsulated amount, in a 3 hour period.