Formation and characterization of cisplatin loaded poly(d,l-lactide) microspheres for chemoembolization

Cisplatin, a slightly water soluble anticancer drug, has been incorporated into biodegradable poly(d,l-lactide) microspheres using the solvent evaporation process. The optimal experimental conditions to produce spherical and separate drug-loaded particles (45% cisplatin) were as follows: the dispersing phase was a mixture of 0.05% methylcellulose and 4% polyvinyl alcohol (8 mPa-s grade); and the optimal poly(d,l-lactide) concentration in the organic phase was found to be greater than or equal to 7.16%. Microscopic studies showed that increasing the drug content in the microspheres produced the appearance of rod-like crystals at the microparticle surface. In addition, the cisplatin crystals were found homogeneously distributed in the polymer matrix, even at a high drug content. Increased viscosities of the organic phase enhanced the mean microsphere size, while increasing the emulsifier concentration in the aqueous phase decreased the average particle size. The drug incorporation efficiency was markedly improved after saturation of the dispersing phase with cisplatin. It was also noted that the amount of drug incorporated increased with increasing mean microsphere diameter. The methylene chloride content entrapped within the microspheres was found to depend upon the microsphere size distribution and the cisplatin content. An increase of the microsphere system porosity, by the addition of 10% cyclohexane in the organic phase, caused a reduction in the residual methylene chloride content. Finally, the in vitro release kinetics of cisplatin were influenced by the drug loading.