Rifampicin carrying polyhydroxybutyrate microspheres as a potential chemoembolization agent

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) is a biodegradable polyester with potential biomedical applications.
• Chemoembolization requires effective drug-loaded carriers for targeted therapy.
• Developing suitable microspheres is crucial for improving chemoembolization efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prepare and characterize polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) microspheres for potential use as chemoembolization agents.
• To investigate the influence of various parameters on microsphere properties and drug loading.
• To evaluate the drug release kinetics from the prepared PHB microspheres.

Main Methods:

• Microspheres were prepared using a solvent evaporation technique with methylene chloride, distilled water, and polyvinyl alcohol.
• Particle size was controlled by adjusting the polymer/solvent ratio, emulsifier concentration, stirring rate, and initial drug concentration.
• Gravity field-flow fractionation was employed to achieve narrow size distributions.
• High drug loading of rifampicin was achieved, and drug release studies were conducted.

Main Results:

• PHB microspheres were successfully prepared in the size range of 5-100 microns.
• Very high drug loadings of up to 407.6 mg rifampicin/g PHB were achieved.
• Rapid drug release was observed, with approximately 90% released within 24 hours.
• Microsphere size and drug content significantly influenced drug release rates.

Conclusions:

• Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) microspheres can be effectively prepared for chemoembolization applications.
• The developed microspheres demonstrate high drug loading capacity and tunable drug release profiles.
• PHB microspheres show promise as biodegradable carriers for targeted drug delivery in chemoembolization.