Piroxicam release from spray-dried biodegradable microspheres

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• Biodegradable polymers like poly(D,L-lactide) (DL-PLA) and poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (DL-PLGA) are widely used in drug delivery.
• Piroxicam is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) commonly formulated for sustained release.
• Microsphere technology offers potential for controlled and targeted drug delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prepare and characterize piroxicam-loaded DL-PLA and DL-PLGA microspheres.
• To investigate the in vitro drug release profiles and mechanisms from these microspheres.
• To compare the drug release behavior of DL-PLA and DL-PLGA based microspheres.

Main Methods:

• Microspheres were prepared using a spray drying technique.
• Characterization included scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for surface morphology, laser diffraction for particle size, and drug content analysis.
• In vitro drug release studies were conducted using a flow-through cell apparatus.

Main Results:

• Microsphere diameters ranged from 1 to 15 microns, with DL-PLA particles being smoother than DL-PLGA.
• High piroxicam encapsulation efficiency (99.0%) was achieved for both polymers.
• DL-PLA microspheres exhibited slow drug release (<20% in 10 days) controlled by diffusion, while DL-PLGA microspheres showed faster release (~50% in 5 hours) via pore diffusion.

Conclusions:

• Both DL-PLA and DL-PLGA microspheres effectively encapsulate piroxicam with high efficiency.
• The choice of polymer significantly influences the drug release rate and mechanism.
• DL-PLA microspheres are suitable for prolonged drug release, whereas DL-PLGA microspheres offer a faster release profile.