Optimizing formulation factors in preparing chitosan microparticles by spray-drying method.

The chitosan only, chitosan/Pluronic F68, chitosan/gelatin, chitosan/Pluronic F68/gelatin microparticles and betamethasone-loaded chitosan/Pluronic F68/gelatin microparticles were successfully prepared by a spray-drying method. Microparticle characteristics (yield rate, zeta potential, particle size and tap density), loading efficiencies, microparticle morphology and in-vitro release properties were investigated. By properly choosing excipient type, concentration and varying the spray-drying parameters, a high degree of control was achieved over the physical properties of the dry chitosan powders. SEM micrograph shows that the particle sizes of the varied chitosan composed microparticles ranged from 2.12-5.67 microm and the external surfaces appear smooth. Using betamethasone as model drug, the spray-drying is a promising way to produce good spherical and smooth surface microparticles with a narrow particle size range for controlled delivery of betamethasone. The positively charged betamethasone-loaded microparticles entrapped in the chitosan/Pluronic F68/gelatin microparticles with trapping efficiencies up to 94.5%, yield rate 42.5% and mean particle size 5.64 microm varied between 4.32-6.20 microm and tap densities 0.128 g/cm(3). The pH of particle was increased with increasing betamethasone-loaded amount, but both zeta potential and tap density of the particles decreased with increasing betamethasone-loaded amount. The betamethasone release rates from chitosan/Pluronic F68/gelatin microparticles were influenced by the drug/polymer ratio in the manner that an increase in the release% and burst release% was observed when the drug loading was decreased. The in vitro release of betamethasone showed a dose-dependent burst followed by a slower release phase that was proportional to the drug concentration in the concentration range between 14-44%w/w.