PURPOSE

To prepare a heterogeneously structured composite based on poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogel nanoparticles for long-term protein drug delivery.

METHODS

A heterogeneously structured composite in the form of PLGA microspheres containing PVA nanoparticles was prepared and named as PLGA-PVA composite microspheres. A model protein drug, bovine serum albumin (BSA), was encapsulated in the PVA nanoparticles first. The BSA-containing PVA nanoparticles was then loaded in the PLGA microspheres by using a phase separation method. The protein-containing PLGA-PVA composite microspheres were characterized with regard to morphology, size and size distribution, BSA loading efficiency, in vitro BSA release, and BSA stability.

RESULTS

The protein-containing PLGA-PVA composite microspheres possessed spherical shape and nonporous surface. The PLGA-PVA composite microspheres had normal or Gaussian size distribution. The particle size ranged from 71.5 microm to 282.7 microm. The average diameter of the composite microspheres was 180 microm. The PLGA-PVA composite microspheres could release the protein (BSA) for two months. The protein stability study showed that BSA was protected during the composite microsphere preparation and stabilized inside the PLGA-PVA composite microspheres.

CONCLUSIONS

The protein-containing PLGA-PVA composite may be suitable for long-term protein drug delivery.