title: Preparation, characterization, and in vivo evaluation of salmon calcitonin microspheres.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was done to prepare, characterize, and evaluate salmon calcitonin (sCT) microspheres (ms) in vivo using a low molecular weight, hydrophilic 50:50 poly (D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) polymer (PLGA).
  
  
  METHODS
  sCT ms were prepared by a dispersion/solvent extraction/evaporation process and characterized for drug content, particle size, surface morphology, and structural integrity of encapsulated peptide. Peptide stability and binding to the polymer was studied in 0.1 M phosphate buffer (PB), pH 7.4, and 0.1 M acetate buffer (AB), pH 4.0. Serum sCT levels were monitored for 2 weeks after subcutaneous injection of sCT ms to rats.
  
  
  RESULTS
  sCT ms were essentially free of discernible surface pores with a particle size distribution in the range of 16 to 89 mm and mean particle size of 51 and 53 mm for 2 batches. Fourier Transform Matrix-assisted Laser Desorption mass spectrometry of the extracted peptide showed that the encapsulation process did not alter its chemical structure. The peptide was substantially more stable in AB than in PB. Peptide binding to the polymer was dependent on pH and was markedly higher in PB than in AB. In vivo study proved that elevated serum sCT levels could be sustained for at least 10 days after administration of sCT ms to rats at a dose of 1.0 mg/kg.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was demonstrated that sCT could be incorporated into polymeric ms prepared from a low molecular weight, hydrophilic PLGA using a dispersion technique without altering molecular structure. A 2-week formulation was prepared at a dose of 1.0 mg/kg.
authors.affiliation: Inhale Therapeutic Systems, 150 Industrial Road, San Carlos, CA 94070, USA.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Dani
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: DeLuca
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004337:Drug Carriers; D005260:Female; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D008863:Microspheres; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004337:Drug Carriers; D011108:Polymers; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid; C028815:salmon calcitonin; D002116:Calcitonin