Altering rate of release through varying microparticle size and morphology

• Main Author: Li, Aaron Zongwei
• Other Authors: Xu Chenjie
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2015
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Bioengineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/64955
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Polymeric microparticles are widely used in drug delivery systems due to their biocompatibility as well as favorable degradation properties. While poly (lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) remains a popular candidate for controlled release of drugs and biomolecules, the single emulsion formulation of PLGA possesses low encapsulation efficiency and high initial burst release in release profile. In view of this, numerous efforts have been spent to design a variety of particle types encompassing different sizes, composites, and morphologies to improve drug delivery. However, none of the systems were able to produce particles with both improved loading efficiency and controlled release profile. In this study, microparticles with different inner phase morphologies, fabricated through a combination of readily available laboratory techniques and equipment, were shown to have varying rates of drug release. The loading of water insoluble DAF-FM into the oil phase of the W/O/W emulsion, was done as an alternative way of administering water insoluble drugs in a bid to overcome the difficulty of forming a stable O/W outer phase in O/W/O double emulsions. Hence, varying inner phase morphologies and sizes of microparticles with the loading in the oil phase serves provide an alternative method for administering tailored water insoluble drug release.