Hydrophilic Albumin Microspheres as Cytarabine Carriers

The surface of cyarabine-entrapped albumin microspheres, the surface modified albumin microspheres hsowed remakably incrased hydrophilicity, good dispersability in aqueous medium and reduced aggregation during storage which met the requirements of injectable drug carriers in acqueous vehicle. In vitro cytarabine release from hydrophilic albumin microspheres (HAM) was a function of the cytarabine to albumin ratio, whereas no significant difference in the releasing capacity was obnserved between surface modified HAM within the small size range$(2\;to\;5\mu{m)}$ studied. HAM containing 15-23% drug were gradually degraded by protease and continuously released up to 60% of the total entrapped cytarabine for 6h. These results thus suggest that HAM is a suitable cytarabine carrier which may be injected intraveneously with the benefits of a reduced risk of blood embolism induced by aggregates and prolonged cytarabine release.