Enhancing drug incorporation into tetracycline-loaded chitosan microspheres for periodontal therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To identify optimal formulation parameters for enhancing the incorporation of tetracycline hydrochloride into chitosan microspheres for periodontal therapy.


METHODS
Tetracycline-loaded chitosan microspheres were prepared by ionotropic gelation. Various formulation parameters (salt form of drug, aqueous phase pH, anion structure, inorganic salts and electrolytes, preparation method) were investigated for their influence on drug incorporation efficiency. Microspheres were assessed in terms of drug entrapment and content, microsphere recovery, particle size and morphology.


RESULTS
Although drug incorporation efficiency was increased marginally, the use of a dihydrate form of the drug was not considered feasible due to the lowered microsphere recovery and higher costs. A decrease in the aqueous pH from 9 to 6 enhanced drug incorporation efficiency without an adverse effect on microsphere morphology. The use of inorganic salts/electrolytes and other approaches of microsphere preparation did not significantly enhance drug incorporation efficiency and these approaches also adversely affected microsphere morphology. The ionotropic preparation method in terms of the drug loading technique significantly affected drug incorporation efficiencies.


CONCLUSIONS
This study has shown that formulation variables can be exploited in order to enhance the incorporation of a water soluble drug into chitosan microspheres using the ionotropic gelation technique. Based on a comparison of all results obtained with the different approaches, the modification of the aqueous phase to pH 6 was identified as the most feasible approach.
Govender
S
S
School of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa. govenderth@ukzn.ac.za
Lutchman
D
D
Pillay
V
V
Chetty
D J
DJ
Govender
T
T
D000838:Anions / Q000737:chemistry; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D048271:Chitosan; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004339:Drug Compounding / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D015636:Magnesium Chloride / Q000737:chemistry; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008863:Microspheres; D010316:Particle Size; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000737:chemistry; D012995:Solubility; D013012:Sorbitol / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D000838:Anions; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D015636:Magnesium Chloride; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D013012:Sorbitol; D048271:Chitosan; D013752:Tetracycline