Development of core-shell microcapsules by a novel supercritical CO2 process.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background:

• Conventional drug delivery systems often face challenges with low encapsulation efficiency and rapid drug release.
• Developing advanced drug delivery vehicles is crucial for improving therapeutic efficacy and patient compliance.
• Polymeric microcapsules offer a promising platform for controlled drug release applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize novel 5-fluorouracil-SiO(2)-poly(L-lactide) (5-Fu-SiO(2)-PLLA) microcapsules.
• To evaluate the encapsulation efficiency and drug release profiles of the prepared microcapsules.
• To investigate the potential of a modified solution-enhanced dispersion by supercritical CO(2) (SEDS) process for producing core-shell microcapsules.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of 5-Fu-loaded SiO(2) nanoparticles via adsorption.
• Coating of 5-Fu-SiO(2) nanoparticles with PLLA using a modified SEDS process.
• Characterization using SEM, particle size analysis, FTIR, and TG-DSC.

Main Results:

• The microcapsules displayed a spherical shape, smooth surface, and a mean particle size of 536 nm.
• Achieved a drug load of 0.18% and an encapsulation efficiency of 80.53%.
• Demonstrated sustained release of 5-Fu, with significantly slower release compared to non-PLLA coated samples.

Conclusions:

• The modified SEDS process is effective for producing 5-Fu-SiO(2)-PLLA microcapsules with a core-shell structure.
• These microcapsules exhibit high encapsulation efficiency and sustained drug release properties.
• The developed microcapsules hold potential for advanced chemotherapeutic drug delivery systems.