Influence of manufacturing parameters on development of contraceptive steroid loaded injectable microspheres.
The main objective of this work was to develop a system consisting of polymeric microspheres loaded with steroid drugs. The drugs were encapsulated using biodegradable poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLG) and poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) by double emulsion solvent evaporation method. The lipophilic drugs, levonorgestrel and ethinylestradiol were made soluble by adding ethanol/water mixture. The effects of parameters like polymer concentration and stabilizer concentration were studied on the size, size distribution, surface properties and loading efficiencies of microspheres. The formulated microspheres were smooth, spherical and uniform in shape and size. Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry studies seemed to confirm the absence of chemical interaction between the drugs and the polymers, while the drugs were dispersed in the polymer. The increase in polymer concentrations increased the size as well as the loading efficiency of microspheres. Data obtained in this study demonstrated that the PLG/PCL microspheres may be a suitable polymeric carrier for long acting injectable drug delivery.
Department of Pharmaceutics, Vel's College of Pharmacy, Old Pallavaram, Chennai, India. mddhanaraju@yahoo.com
Magharla Dasaratha
MD
Dhanaraju
Rajadas
R
Jayakumar
Chandrasekar
C
Vamsadhara
D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D003270:Contraceptive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D004337:Drug Carriers; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D016912:Levonorgestrel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D008863:Microspheres; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013256:Steroids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical
D003270:Contraceptive Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D013256:Steroids; D016912:Levonorgestrel