title: Microencapsulation of erythromycin and clarithromycin using a spray-drying technique.
abstract: Previous methods of microencapsulation are unable to process particles smaller than 100 microm without organic solvents or the use of multistep processes. The present study investigates the feasiblity of a one-step spray-drying process to microencapsulate erythromycin and clarithromycin, antibiotics known to have an unpleasant, bitter taste. Mixtures of clarithromycin (5% by weight) or erythromycin (30% by weight) with a biodegradable polymer were prepared and spray-dried under specific conditions of temperature and turbine speed. This process resulted in the microencapsulation of 80% of each drug as determined by high pressure liquid chromatography. Particle size ranged from 1 to 80 microm as determined by electron microscopy. These data show that microencapsulation of macrolides using a spray-drying technique is feasible. Spray-drying microencapsulation might be useful in the formulation of palatable oral suspensions of bitter tasting drugs.
authors.affiliation: Centre Wallon de Biologie Industrielle, Université de Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zgoulli
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Grek
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barre
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Goffinet
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thonart
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zinner
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D002214:Capsules; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D004339:Drug Compounding; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010316:Particle Size
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002214:Capsules; D004917:Erythromycin; D017291:Clarithromycin