title: [Biodegradable systems containing prednisolone acetate for orbital administration].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study aimed to evaluate an injectable extended-release formulation of prednisolone acetate (PA) for orbital administration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Microspheres (MEs) of poly-e-caprolactone (PCL) containing PA were developed by the method of solvent evaporation. The MEs obtained were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), encapsulation efficiency and in vitro release profile. The in vivo release profile was evaluated in rabbits after periocular injection of an aqueous suspension of MEs. The local biocompatibility of the system was verified by histopathologic analysis of the deployment region.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After MEs preparation, morphological analysis by SEM showed the feasibility of the employed method. The content of PA encapsulated was 43+/-7% and can be considered as satisfactory. The system characterization by DSC technique, in addition to confirm the system stability, did not indicate the existence of interaction between the drug and the polymer. The in vitro release study showed the prolonged-release features of the developed system. Preliminary in vivo study showed the absence of local toxicity and confirmed the prolonged release profile of PA from MEs, suggesting the viability of the developed system for the treatment of orbital inflammatory diseases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results obtained in this work are relevant and accredit the system developed as a possible alternative to the treatment of inflammatory orbitopathy.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais-UFMG, Belo Horizonte (MG), Brazil.
authors.forename: Ricardo Martins Duarte
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Byrro
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Miyashita
authors.forename: Verônica Batista de
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Albuquerque
authors.forename: Antônio Augusto
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Velasco e Cruz
authors.forename: Armando da Silva
authors.initials: Ada S
authors.lastname: Cunha Júnior
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D008422:Materials Testing; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008863:Microspheres; D011091:Polyesters / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D011817:Rabbits; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004337:Drug Carriers; D011091:Polyesters; C016240:polycaprolactone; C009935:prednisolone acetate; D011239:Prednisolone