title: Fabrication and characterization of monodisperse PLGA-alginate core-shell microspheres with monodisperse size and homogeneous shells for controlled drug release.
abstract: Monodisperse PLGA-alginate core-shell microspheres with controlled size and homogeneous shells were first fabricated using capillary microfluidic devices for the purpose of controlling drug release kinetics. Sizes of PLGA cores were readily controlled by the geometries of microfluidic devices and the fluid flow rates. PLGA microspheres with sizes ranging from 15 to 50μm were fabricated to investigate the influence of the core size on the release kinetics. Rifampicin was loaded into both monodisperse PLGA microspheres and PLGA-alginate core-shell microspheres as a model drug for the release kinetics studies. The in vitro release of rifampicin showed that the PLGA core of all sizes exhibited sigmoid release patterns, although smaller PLGA cores had a higher release rate and a shorter lag phase. The shell could modulate the drug release kinetics as a buffer layer and a near-zero-order release pattern was observed when the drug release rate of the PLGA core was high enough. The biocompatibility of PLGA-alginate core-shell microspheres was assessed by MTT assay on L929 mouse fibroblasts cell line and no obvious cytotoxicity was found. This technique provides a convenient method to control the drug release kinetics of the PLGA microsphere by delicately controlling the microstructures. The obtained monodisperse PLGA-alginate core-shell microspheres with monodisperse size and homogeneous shells could be a promising device for controlled drug release.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Tiantian
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Kelvin Wai Kwok
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Yeung
authors.forename: Ho Cheung
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Shum
authors.forename: Kenneth Man Chee
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Liqiu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Michael Kai Tsun
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: To
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D002214:Capsules / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000633:toxicity; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D004058:Diffusion; D005782:Gels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D008422:Materials Testing; D051379:Mice; D008863:Microspheres; D010316:Particle Size; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D012293:Rifampin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D002214:Capsules; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005782:Gels; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D012293:Rifampin