Multiresponse optimization of the properties of albendazole-chitosan microparticles.

The loading of albendazole into biodegradable polymeric microparticles provides an attractive alternative to improve the drug dissolution rate. Experimental design and optimization techniques were implemented for the development of albendazole-chitosan microparticles using the ionic interaction method. The effect of seven different factors (chitosan concentration, pH of chitosan solution, stirring rate, stirring time, temperature, ionic agent and pH of ionic solutions) were studied on six responses: the yield, pH, morphology, size, dissolution rate and encapsulation efficiency of the microparticles. During the screening phase, the factors were evaluated at three levels each, in order to identify those which exert a significant effect. Multiple response simultaneous optimization by using the desirability function was then used to find experimental conditions where the system shows the most adequate results. The optimal conditions were found to be: NaOH as ionic agent at a pH value of 13.0, chitosan concentration, 0.50% (w/v) at a pH value of 1.0 and stirring rate, 1,000 rpm.