• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
• /
• v.1993 no.05
• /
• pp.7-14
• /
• 1993

Nowadays, microspheres are expected to be applied to biomedical areas and many studies are being performed. For biomedical applications, many kinds of microspheres were synthesized by emulsion polymerization, emulsifier-free emu]sion polymerization, and emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization with ionic surface-active comonomers. Further synthesis techniques about microencapsulation and magnetic microspheres are introduced. Among the practical applications of microspheres, some interesting subjects are introduced. These include solid-phase immunoassays, labeling and identification of lymphocyte populations, extracorporeal and hemoperfusion systems, drug delivery systems, and immunomagnetic cell separation. In addition, basic theories, problems and research trends are also introduced.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.385-390
• /
• 2000

To demonstrate the effect of formulation conditions on the controlled release of protein from poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microspheres for use as a parenteral drug carrier, ovalbumin (OVA) microspheres were prepared using the W/O/W multiple emulsion solvent evaporation and extraction method. Methylene chloride or ethyl acetate was applied as an organic phase and poly(vinyl alcohol) as a secondary emulsion stabilizer. Low loading efficiencies of less than 20％ were observed and the in vitro release of OVA showed a burst effect in all batches of different microspheres, followed by a gradual release over the next 6 weeks. Formulation processes affected the size and morphology, drug content, and the controlled release of OVA from PLGA microspheres.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.123-128
• /
• 1993

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.

• Macromolecular Research
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.163-167
• /
• 2009

This study presents a microfluidic method for the production of monodisperse poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) microspheres using continuous droplet formation and in situ photopolymerization in microfluidic devices. We investigated the flow patterns for the stable formation of droplets using capillary number and the flow rate of the hexade-cane phase. Under the stable region, the resulting microspheres showed narrow size distribution having a coefficient of variation (CV) of below 1.8%. The size of microspheres ($45{\sim}95{\mu}m$) could be easily controlled by changing the interfacial tension between the two immiscible phases and the flow rates of the dispersed or continuous phase.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
• /
• 2003.10b
• /
• pp.231.1-231.1
• /
• 2003

Mucoadhesive microsphere was prepared by interpo]ymer complexation of po]y(acrylic acid) (PAA) with po]y(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) using solvent diffusion method. The loading efficiency of acetaminophen into the microsphere was 91.3 ${\pm}$ 6.5%. The release rate of acetaminophen from the PAA/PVP complex microspheres was slower than that from PVP microspheres at pH 2.0 and 6.8. The dissolution of microspheres made of the complex was significantly slower than those made of PVP due to H-bond between PVP and PAA. As a result, the release rate of acetaminophen from the complex microspheres was slower than that from PVP microspheres.

• Polymer(Korea)
• /
• v.35 no.5
• /
• pp.390-394
• /
• 2011

Effects of silver nanoparticles on the polymerization rate and morphology of poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc)/silver microspheres prepared by suspension polymerization of VAc were investigated. Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and atomic absorption spectrometry were used to characterize the morphology and properties of the PVAc/silver microspheres. Due to the change of hydrophilicity of silver nanoparticles, appearance of the microspheres having golf ball-like convave surfaces was observed. Under controlled concentration of surfactant, PVAc/silver microspheres with various hollow structures were synthesized. In the case of silver nanoparticles modified by surfactant, the polymerization rate increased slightly. PVAc/silver microspheres with a conversion up to 80% were prepared via suspension polymerization.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
• /
• v.11 no.6
• /
• pp.526-529
• /
• 2006

The aim of this study was to prepare cyclosporin A-loaded liposome (CyA-Lip) as an oral delivery carrier, with their encapsulation into microspheres based on alginate or extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) p-m10356. The main advantage of liposomes in the microspheres (LIMs) is to improve the restricted drug release property from liposomes and their stability in the stomach environment. Alginate microspheres containing CyA-Lip were prepared with a spray nozzle; CyA-Liploaded EPS microspheres were also prepared using a w/o emulsion method. The shape of the LIMs was spherical and uniform, and the particle size of the alginate-LIMs ranged from 5 to $10\;{\mu}m$, and that of the EPS-LIMs was about $100\;{\mu}m$. In a release test, release rate of CyA in simulated intestinal fluid (SIF) from the LIMs was significantly enhanced compared to that in simulated gastric fluid (SGF). In addition, the CyA release rates were slower from formulations containing the liposomes compared to the microspheres without the liposome. Therefore, alginate-and EPS-LIMs have the potential for the controlled release of CyA and as an oral delivery system.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.273-280
• /
• 1996

Chondroitin sulfate/gelatin microspheres containing dexamethasone 21-acetate were prepared by complex coacervation method and their release patterns were examined in vitro. Microspheres prepared with a small amount of crosslinking agent had smooth surface and few pores, but those with a large amount of crosslinking agent were more porous and less spherical. In vitro release patterns were varied by changing polymer/drug weight ratio and amount of crosslinking agent. The release rate of dexamethasone 21-acetate in the presence of collagenase was faster than that in the absence of collagenase. Anti-inflammatory effect of dexamethasone 21-acetate microspheres was more efficient than that of dexamethasone 21-acetate solution in carrageenan-induced arthritis in the rat. On the basis of the above results, we might expect the degradation and drug release rate of these microspheres to be regulated by the degree of crosslinking and the level of enzymes. In patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis who have high concentration of collagenase, more drug would be released from the microspheres. An intra-articular injection therapy of rheumatoid arthritis with desired release kinetics could be developed to enhance patient compliance and therapeutic index.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.253-258
• /
• 2000

In order to design the oral vaccine delivery system, we prepared the alginate micro spheres containing GFP (green fluorescent protein) as a model drug by spray method. To optimize the preparation conditions of microspheres, we investigated the effects of various parameters including nozzle pressure, nozzle opening angle, and concentrations of sodium alginate and calcium chloride. The prepared microspheres were evaluated by measuring their sizes, loading efficiency, and morphology. The particle size of microspheres was affected by the concentration of sodium alginate and calcium chloride, nozzle pressure, and nozzle opening angle. As the concentration of sodium alginate increased, GFP loading efficiency and particles size of microsphere also increased. However, it was observed to be difficult to spray the sodium alginate solution with concentration greater than 1.5% (w/v), due to high viscosity. The pressure over $3\;kgf/cm^2$ didn't affect the size of particles. As a result, the spraying method enabled us to prepare microspheres for oral vaccine delivery system. In this study, microspheres prepared with 1% (w/v) sodium alginate had greater loading efficiency and better spherical shape.

• Membrane Journal
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.218-229
• /
• 2004

We prepared monodispersed calcium alginate microspheres by controlling various conditions of emulsification procedure using a lab-scale batch type membrane emulsification system equipped with SPG (Shirasu porous glass) tubular membranes. We determined the effects of process parameters of membrane emulsification (ratio of dispersed phase to continuous phase, alginate concentration, emulsifier concentration, type and concentration of stabilizer, transmembrane pressure, concentration of crosslinking agent, stirring speed and membrane pore size) on the mean size and size distribution of alginate microspheres. The increase of the ratio of dispersed phase to continuous phase, transmembrane pressure and alginate concentration led to the increase in the mean size of alginate microspheres. On the contrary, the increase in emulsifier concentration, stirring speed of the continuous phase and concentration of the crosslinking agent caused the reduction of the mean size of microspheres. Through controlling these parameters, monodisperse alginate microspheres with about $6{\mu}{\textrm{m}}$ of the mean size and 1.1 of the size distribution value were finally prepared in case of the using SPC membrane with the pore size of $2.9{\mu}{\textrm{m}}$.