• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.291-297
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• 2004

Water-soluble chitosan micro spheres were prepared by emulsification of chitosan solution in mineral oil followed by cross linking reaction with different amount of the cross linking agent (glutraraldehyde), different chitosan concentration. Then, the physicochemical properties such as morphological change by degradation, drug loading efficiency, and drug release profiles were investigated with the drug loaded water-soluble chitosan microspheres. Norfloxacin loaded water-soluble chitosan micro spheres showed excellent drug entrapping capacities without burst release caused by surface bound drug. The absence of the surface bound drug also confirmed by X-ray diffraction study. Degradation and drug release studies showed that the amount of the crosslinking agent played a crucial role for drug loading, release and degradation. The water-soluble chitosan micro spheres showed more sustained drug release profiles with slower degradation and larger particle size by increasing crosslinking agent.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.347-354
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• 2011

Repeated oral administration of loxoprofen can induce many side effects such as gastric disturbances and acidosis. Therefore, we considered alternative routes of administration for loxoprofen to avoid such adverse effects. The aim of this study was to develop an ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) matrix system containing a permeation enhancer for enhanced transdermal delivery of loxoprofen. The EVA matrix containing loxoprofen was fabricated and the effects of drug concentration, temperature, enhancer and plasticizer on drug release were studied from the loxoprofen-EVA matrix. The solubility of loxoprofen was highest at 40% (v/v) PEG 400. The release rate of drug from drug-EVA matrix increased with increased loading dose and temperature. The release rate was proportional to the square root of loading dose. The activation energy (Ea), which was measured from the slope of log P versus 1000/T, was 5.67 kcal/mol for a 2.0% loaded drug dose from the EVA matrix. Among the plasticizer used, diethyl phthalate showed the highest release rate of loxoprofen. Among the enhancers used, polyoxyethylene 2-oleyl ether showed the greatest enhancing effect. In conclusion, for the enhanced controlled transdermal delivery of loxoprofen, the application of the EVA matrix containing plasticizer and penetration enhancer could be useful in the development of a controlled drug delivery system.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.33-39
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• 1994

We have studied the effect of loading amount and particle size on the rate of release of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) from ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) matrix. Release rate increased as the loading amount and particle size increase. We also studied the effect of additives (lactose and algin) on the rate of release of 5-FU. Both algin and lactose promoted the rate of release. The ability to increase the rate is in the order of algin>lactose>5-FU. Scanning electron microscope study clearly shows that large cavities and cracks are created. The results imply that, by the proper combinations of the amount of the additive, $EVA_c$ and drug, the rate of drug release can be modulated over a wide range of values.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.867-872
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• 2011

For the prolonged delivery and sustained release rates of low molecular weight drugs, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microparticles containing the drug SKL-2020 have been investigated. On increasing polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) concentration (from 0.2% to 5%), the size of microparticles decreased (from $48.02{\mu}m$ to $10.63{\mu}m$) and more uniform size distribution was noticeable due to the powerful emulsifying ability of PVA. A higher drug loading (from 5% to 20%) caused a larger concentration gradient between 2 phases at the polymer precipitation step; this resulted in decreased encapsulation efficiency (from 34.19% to 25.67%) and a greater initial burst (from 61.71% to 70.05%). SKL-2020-loaded PLGA microparticles prepared with different fabrication conditions exhibited unique release patterns of SKL-2020. High PVA concentration and high drug loading led to an initial burst effect by rapid drug diffusion through the polymer matrix. Since PLGA microparticles enabled the slow release of SKL-2020 over 1 week in vitro and in vivo, more convenient and comfortable treatment could be facilitated with less frequent administration. It is feasible to design a release profile by mixing microparticles that were prepared with different fabrication conditions. By this method, the initial burst could be repressed properly and drug release rate could decrease.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.511-520
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• 2000

Various bupivacaine-loaded microspheres were prepared from poly (d,l-lactide) (PLA) or poly (d,l-lactic-co-glycolide) (PLGA) by a solvent evaporation method for the sustained release of drug. PLA and PLGA microspheres were prepared by w/o/w and w/o/o multiple emulsion solvent evaporation, respectively. The effects of process conditions such as emulsification speed, emulsifier type, emulsifier concentration and internal/external phase ratio on the characteristics of microspheres were investigated. The prepared microspheres were characterized for their drug loading, size distribution, surface morphology and release kinetics. Drug loading efficiency was higher in the microspheres prepared by w/o/o multiple emulsion than that by w/o/w multiple emulsion method, because the solubility of bupivacaine HCI was decreased in oil phase compared with water phase. The prepared microspheres had an average diameter between 1 and $2\;{\mu}M$ in all conditions of two methods. In morphology studies the PLA microspheres showed an irregular shape and smooth surface, but PLGA microspheres had a spherical shape and smooth surface. The release pattern of the drug from microspheres was evaluated on the basis of the burst effect and the extent of the release after 24h. The in vitro release of bupivacaine HCl from microspheres showed a large initial burst release and $60{\sim}80%$ release within one day in all conditions of two methods. The extents of the burst release against PLA and PLGA microspheres were $30{\sim}50%$ and $50{\sim}80%$ within 20min, respectively. This burst release seems to be due to the smaller size of microspheres and the solubility of drug in water.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.355-361
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• 2006

Intraarticular corticosteroid injections for therapy of rheumatic arthritis are administered with the aim of optimal local anti-inflammatory effect at the injection site. Since the side effects of corticosteroidal drug, dexamethasone(DEX), administered at hish dose limited the therapeutic efficacy, there was a need to design a new drug delivery system for controlled release of dexamethasone. As a prodrug for continuous therapeutic efficacy, dexamethasone-21-palmitate(DEX-PAL) was prepared via esterification of palmitoyl chloride and dexamethasone. DEX-PAL was identified by NMR and MASS analysis. DEX-PAL or DEX was entrapped in lipid nanosphere which could be prepared by using a self emulsification-solvent evaporation method. Physicochemical characteristics such as mean particle diameter, zeta potential and drug loading efficiency of the lipid nanospheres were investigated with variation of either the kind of lipid or the lipid composition. The lipid nanospheres had a mean diameter $83{\sim}95$ nm and DEX-PAL loading efficiency of up to 95%. The drug loading efficiency increased with the increase of aliphatic chain length attached to the phospholipid. The incorporation of cationic lipid was very efficient for both reducing particle size of lipid nanospheres and enhancing drug loading efficiency. The lipid nanospheres containing DEX-PAL may be a promising novel drug carrier for the controlled release of the poorly water-soluble drugs.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.251-256
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• 1994

Polypropylene glycol (M.W. 4000) was crosslinked and chain-extended by using triisocyanate and diisocyanate to synthesize rubbery and water swellable hydrogels. Model drugs, i.e., sodium salicylate and indomethacin were incorporated in the polymer matrices by swelling loading. The drug release rates of drugs could be regulated by varying the degrees of crosslinking and chain-extension. Whereas, no correlation was observed between the drug release profiles and the swelling behaviours of the matrices. The release of drugs from the matrices was considered to be governed by the mobility and mesh size of the polymer chains in the matrices.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.71-77
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• 1997

With the aim of improving periodontal regeneration efficacy, as a biodegradable local drug delivery device, drug releasing chitosan beads were prepared. Chitosan beads were prepared through the formation of intermolecular or intramolecular ionic interaction bewteen chitosan and sodium tripolyphosphate and were loaded with flurbiprofen. The mean diameter of the beads was $250\;{\mu}m$. Drug loading efficiency was improved by regulating the pH of tripolyphosphate solution. The drug release kinetics mainly depended upon the hydrophobic properties of the flurbiprofen, that is, the release of flurbiprofen showed initial burst with rapid release for the first day followed by a levelling off of the release rate. However, the release rate could be controlled by the formulation factor including the pH, concentration of the tripolyphosphate solution, gelation time, drug contents. From these results, flurbiprofen loaded chitosan beads were anticipated as biodegradable local drug delivery devices for periodontal regeneneration.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.1092-1096
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• 2005

Huperzine A-loaded microspheres composed of poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) were prepared by an O/w emulsion solvent evaporation method. The characterization of the microspheres such as drug loading, size, shape and release profile was described. The in vitro release in the initial 7 days was nearly linear with $10\%$ released per day. Thereafter drug release rate became slow gradually and about $90\%$ drug released at day 21. The in vitro release rate determined by dialysis bag method had a good correlation with the in vivo release rate. Huperzine A aqueous solution was intramuscularly injected (i.m.) at 0.4mg/kg and microspheres were intra­muscularly injected at 8.4 mg eq huperzine A/kg in rats. The maxium plasma concentration $(C_{max})$ after i.m. microspheres was only $32\%$ of that after i.m. solution. Drug in plasma could be detectd until day 14 and about $5\%$ of administered dose was residued at the injection site at day 14. The relative bioavailability of huperzine A microspheres over a period of 14 days was $94.7\%$. Inhibition of acyecholinesterase activity (AchE) in rat's cortex, hippocampus and striatum could sustain for about 14 days. In conclusion, huperzine A-loaded microspheres possessed a prolonged and complete drug release with significant inhibition of AchE for 2 weeks in rats.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.63-72
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• 2008

Meloxicam-loaded microspheres were prepared with poly(D,L-lactic acid)(PLA) by a solvent-emulsion evaporation method. The morphology, particle size, drug loading capacity, drug entrapment efficiency (EE) and release patterns of drug were investigated in vitro. Various batches of micro spheres with different size and drug content were obtained by changing the ratio of meloxicam to $PLA^{\circ}{\AE}s$ with different molecular weight, PLA concentration in the dispersed phase and stirring rate. Meloxicam crystals on microsphere surface, which were released rapidly and could act as a loading dose, were observed with increasing drug content. The release rate was increased with increase in drug contents and decrease in the molecular weight of PLA. Microspheres prepared with smaller molecular weight produced faster drug release rate. The release rate of meloxicam for long-acting injectable delivery system in vitro, which would aid in predicting in vivo release profile, could be controlled by properly optimizing various factors affecting characteristics of microspheres. Blood concentration-time profile of meloxicam after intramuscular injection of meloxicam-loaded microspheres in rabbits showed possibility of long term application of this system in clinical settings.