title: Applicability of non-halogenated methyl propionate to microencapsulation.
abstract: Applicability of methyl propionate to microencapsulation was evaluated with regard to volatility, capability of forming emulsions, and their quality. An emulsion-based technique was then developed to encapsulate progesterone into poly-d,l-lactide-co-glycolide microspheres. Their characteristics were compared with those prepared using ethyl acetate. Our results demonstrated that methyl propionate had greater evaporative tendency and less water miscibility than ethyl acetate did. The former allowed us to prepare good microspheres. Their average volume mean diameter was 68.3 ± 1.7 μm with a span index of 0.91 ± 0.13. Progesterone did not undergo polymorphic transition during microencapsulation, and its encapsulation efficiency ranged from 41.80 ± 1.83 to 85.64 ± 1.95%. Residual methyl propionate in various microspheres was found to be 0.97 ± 0.03 to 1.54 ± 0.07%. Such microsphere characteristics were quite similar to those prepared by the ethyl acetate-based microencapsulation process. Overall, our findings reflect that methyl propionate has a potential to become an invaluable solvent for microencapsulation.
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Ewha Womans University , Seoul , Korea and.
authors.forename: Jukyung
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Edel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sah
authors.forename: Hongkee
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sah
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000737:chemistry; D002214:Capsules / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D008863:Microspheres; D010316:Particle Size; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011422:Propionates / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D002214:Capsules; D011422:Propionates; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid; C007650:ethyl acetate
keywords: Injectable dosage form; methyl propionate; non-halogenated solvents; poly-d,l-lactide-co-glycolide