title: The in-vitro and in-vivo characterization of PLGA:L-PLA microspheres containing dexamethasone sodium phosphate.
abstract: Dexamethasone sodium phosphate (DSP) is a widely used corticosteroid in the treatment of brain oedema associated with brain tumours. DSP has many side effects that limit its usage at an effective concentration. The objective of this study was to minimize these side effects by encapsulating DSP using biodegradable synthetic polymers, to extend the release time from microspheres and to evaluate the effectiveness in the treatment of brain oedema. Microspheres containing 5% DSP were formulated by the solvent evaporation method by using a 1:1 mixture of two synthetic polymers, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) and L-polylactic acid (PLGA and L-PLA). The surface morphologies and particle size distribution of the microspheres were investigated. The in-vitro release studies were performed in pH 7.4 phosphate buffer solution. For determining the effectiveness of microspheres in the treatment of brain oedema, Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 200-250g were used as an animal model. Brain oedema was generated by the cold lesion method, and the effectiveness of the microspheres in treatment of oedema was investigated by the wet-dry weight method, lipid peroxidation ratios and histological evaluations. The average particle size of the microspheres was 13.04 +/- 2.05 microm, and the in-vitro release time of the microspheres was 8 h for 100/release. The degree of oedema was significantly different from the control group for the wet-dry weight method and lipid peroxidation ratio (p < 0.05). Similarly, histological evaluation of the tissues shoved that degree of oedema was significantly decreased with respect to the control group. All these results showed that implantation of microspheres was significantly more effective with respect to the systemic administration of DSP.
authors.affiliation: Hacettepe University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Sihhiye-Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Eroğlu
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kaş
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Oner
authors.forename: O F
authors.initials: OF
authors.lastname: Türkoğlu
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Akalan
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Sargon
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ozer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008863:Microspheres; D010316:Particle Size; D011091:Polyesters; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011108:Polymers / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats; D012995:Solubility
chemical_list: D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; C004180:dexamethasone 21-phosphate; D019344:Lactic Acid; C033616:poly(lactide); D003907:Dexamethasone