Biodegradable polymeric microcapsules for sustained release of riboflavin

Area of Science:

• Polymer chemistry
• Materials science
• Drug delivery systems

Background:

• Polylactic acid (PLA) and polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) are biodegradable polymers widely used in biomedical applications.
• Developing efficient methods for microencapsulating drugs within these polymers is crucial for controlled release applications.
• The physical and chemical properties of PLA and PLGA influence drug release kinetics and entrapment efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize polylactic acid and polylactic-co-glycolic acid using a simple, safe, and economical method.
• To microencapsulate riboflavin (RF) within PLA and PLGA matrices using an oil-in-water emulsion solvent evaporation technique.
• To characterize the drug-loaded microcapsules and evaluate their in vitro release performance.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of polylactic acid and polylactic-co-glycolic acid with yields exceeding 90%.
• Microencapsulation of riboflavin (RF) using the oil-in-water emulsion solvent evaporation method at various drug:polymer ratios.
• Characterization of microcapsules for morphology and entrapment efficiency (E.E.).
• In vitro release studies of RF from the microcapsule formulations over 3 days.

Main Results:

• High yields (>90%) achieved in polymer synthesis.
• Microcapsules exhibited a burst release of RF within the first 12 hours, followed by gradual release over 3 days.
• Cumulative RF release reached 70% for PDLA and 80% for PDLAGA formulations by day 3.
• The highest entrapment efficiency (E.E.) achieved was 85%.
• Release kinetics followed a zero-order pattern.

Conclusions:

• PLA and PLGA can be synthesized efficiently and economically.
• The developed microcapsules effectively encapsulate riboflavin, offering controlled release properties.
• The drug:polymer ratio significantly impacts entrapment efficiency and release profiles.
• These microencapsulation systems show potential for modified drug performance in pharmaceutical applications.