Innovative centrifugal microfluidic approach for risperidone-loaded PLGA microsphere production.

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutics
• Biomaterials Science
• Microfluidics

Background:

• Microsphere drug delivery systems are crucial for sustained therapeutic effects.
• Developing efficient and scalable methods for microsphere preparation remains a challenge.
• Risperidone is a key antipsychotic medication requiring optimized delivery for chronic conditions like schizophrenia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and optimize a novel centrifugal microfluidic technology for preparing risperidone-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) microspheres (RIS-MS).
• To evaluate the impact of key preparation parameters on RIS-MS characteristics.
• To assess the in vivo pharmacokinetics and sustained release profile of RIS-MS.

Main Methods:

• Utilized centrifugal microfluidic technology for RIS-MS fabrication.
• Investigated parameters such as PLGA concentration, microchannel diameter, and centrifugal speed.
• Performed in vivo pharmacokinetic studies in rabbits and analyzed drug release profiles.

Main Results:

• Successfully produced RIS-MS using microchannels (170-210 μm) at 400 rpm with ≥15% PLGA.
• Achieved more stable plasma concentrations and a lower Cmax compared to risperidone suspension.
• Demonstrated sustained release of risperidone for up to 42 days in rabbits.

Conclusions:

• Centrifugal microfluidic technology offers an efficient method for producing high-quality RIS-MS.
• Optimized RIS-MS exhibit excellent sustained-release properties.
• These RIS-MS hold significant potential for long-acting injectable therapy in schizophrenia management.