title: Surface characterization by atomic force microscopy of sterilized PLGA microspheres.
abstract: Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is recognized a suitable and powerful technique for surface and morphological analysis. Even if until now this technique has not been frequently used in the pharmaceutical field, it can contribute to an accurate morphologic characterization of microspheres and nanospheres. In this work, atomic force microscopy has been used to perform the surface characterization of sterilized microspheres. The aim is to investigate the morphologic modifications induced by gamma irradiation on poly(lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres loaded with ovalbumin and to compare the results obtained by AFM to those obtained by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results obtained show that, with respect to SEM, AFM can give some additional information regarding the modifications induced by gamma-irradiation on microspheres surface morphology. The significant changes in surface roughness after irradiation are indicative of damage due to gamma-irradiation. The unchanged surface roughness values calculated for microspheres containing PEG in their matrix, suggest that this polymer exerts a protective effect towards gamma-irradiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dorati
authors.forename: Maddalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Patrini
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Perugini
authors.forename: Franca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pavanetto
authors.forename: Angiolino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stella
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Modena
authors.forename: Ida
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Genta
authors.forename: Bice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Conti
mesh_terms: D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects*; D005720:Gamma Rays; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008863:Microspheres; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010316:Particle Size; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013242:Sterilization / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D011108:Polymers; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid; D010047:Ovalbumin