Biomedical subjects

C G Chia

Publications and source records attributed to C G Chia.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Plasticizers and their effects on microencapsulation process by spray-drying in an aqueous system.

Microencapsulated theophylline particles were prepared by an aqueous spray-drying process using hydroxypropylmethylcellulose. The effect of different plasticizers, triethylcitrate, polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerin and citric acid, was investigated. Triethylcitrate, a water-insoluble plasticizer, produced a porous honeycomb-like microcapsule wall resulting in rapid drug release. The presence of the plasticizers also influenced crystallization of the drug. The formation of a solid drug dispersion was observed with the addition of citric acid or glycerin. Changes in the pH of liquid feed caused by the plasticizer had an effect on the product dissolution profile, but this was not a major factor. Formation of pores due to leaching of plasticizers during dissolution enhanced drug release. Flow property measurements indicated that the plasticizers also affect the cohesiveness of the spray-dried products. Compared to the microcapsules formed without any plasticizers, propylene glycol, glycerin and citric acid appeared to be beneficial to the microcapsule wall formation, with microcapsules containing citric acid having the slowest drug release.

Crystallization↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Citric acid as a plasticizer for spray-dried microcapsules.

An aqueous spray-drying process was used to coat theophylline particles with a cellulose polymer, sodium carboxymethylcellulose (NaCMC) or hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC). Effect of a plasticizer, citric acid, was studied. Strength of cast films have a direct relationship to the dissolution T50% values of the respective spray-dried products. With varying plasticizer concentrations, changes in interaction between plasticizer and polymer, and in size of crystallized drug crystals, were observed with HPMC films. The plasticizer content also affected the films of NaCMC by bringing about a change in the form and arrangement of the drug. X-ray diffraction analyses of the different spray-dried products revealed a possibility of the predominance of different crystal forms. Spherical spray-dried microcapsules of NaCMC were formed with a 20-30% w/w plasticizer content. With HPMC, as plasticizer concentration was increased there was a corresponding increase in mean size of the spray-dried products. In terms of drug release and formation of spherical particles, a plasticizer concentration of 30% w/w was found to be suitable for both HPMC and NaCMC.

Capsules↗