pH-sensitive release of indomethacin using lactan-acetate microspheres

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Hydrophilic lactan gum requires modification for advanced applications.
• Developing pH-sensitive materials is crucial for targeted drug delivery.
• Microsphere-based systems offer controlled release mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To chemically modify lactan gum into lactan acetate.
• To fabricate and characterize pH-sensitive lactan acetate microspheres.
• To evaluate the drug loading and in vitro release properties of the microspheres.

Main Methods:

• Chemical modification of lactan gum to lactan acetate.
• Solvent evaporation method for microsphere preparation.
• In vitro drug release studies at different pH values (1.2 and 7.4).

Main Results:

• Lactan acetate microspheres below 5 microns were successfully prepared.
• High drug loading efficiencies of approximately 70-80% were achieved.
• Microspheres demonstrated significant pH-sensitive swelling, with greater capacity at pH 7.4.
• In vitro release studies showed a ~10-fold faster drug release at pH 7.2 compared to pH 1.2.

Conclusions:

• Lactan acetate is a suitable material for pH-sensitive drug delivery systems.
• The prepared microspheres exhibit controlled, pH-dependent drug release.
• The drug release mechanism involves microsphere swelling and subsequent disintegration.