title: Coaxial Electrospray of Curcumin-Loaded Microparticles for Sustained Drug Release.
abstract: Curcumin exhibits superior anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and analgesic activities without significant side effects. However, clinical dissemination of this natural medicine is limited by its low solubility and poor bio-availability. To overcome this limitation, we propose to encapsulate curcumin in poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microparticles (MPs) by an improved coaxial electrospray (CES) process. This process is able to generate a stable cone-jet mode in a wide range of operation parameters in order to produce curcumin-loaded PLGA MPs with a clear core-shell structure and a designated size of several micrometers. In order to optimize the process outcome, the effects of primary operation parameters such as the applied electric voltages and the liquid flow rates are studied systemically. In vitro drug release experiments are also carried out for the CES-produced MPs in comparison with those by a single axial electrospray process. Our experimental results show that the CES process can be effectively controlled to encapsulate drugs of low aqueous solubility for high encapsulation efficiency and optimal drug release profiles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shuai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Fan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, 43210, United States of America.
authors.forename: Zhongfa
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrasound, the 105th Hospital of PLA, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Qingping
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.affiliation: Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, People's Republic of China; Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, 43210, United States of America.
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Si
authors.affiliation: Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, People's Republic of China; Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, 43210, United States of America.
authors.forename: Ronald X
authors.initials: RX
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D055252:Cell-Derived Microparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D003474:Curcumin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000737:chemistry; D065546:Drug Liberation; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D010316:Particle Size; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid; D003474:Curcumin