Results
Title

Application of acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of dispersed organic solvent in developing new microencapsulation process technology.

Authors

Lee, Honghwa; Lee, Sunhwa; Bhattacharjee, Himanshu; Sah, Hongkee

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate a new microencapsulation technology employing an acid-catalyzed solvent extraction method in conjunction to an emulsion-based microencapsulation process. Its process consisted of emulsifying a dispersed phase of poly( D,L-lactide- co-glycolide) and isopropyl formate in an aqueous phase. This step was followed by adding hydrochloric acid to the resulting oil-in-water emulsion, in order to initiate the hydrolysis of isopropyl formate dissolved in the aqueous phase. Its hydrolysis caused the liberation of water-soluble species, that is, isopropanol and formic acid. This event triggered continual solvent leaching out of emulsion droplets, thereby initiating microsphere solidification. This new processing worked well for encapsulation of progesterone and ketoprofen that were chosen as a nonionizable model drug and a weakly acidic one, respectively. Furthermore, the structural integrity of poly( D,L-lactide- co-glycolide) was retained during microencapsulation. The new microencapsulation technology, being conceptually different from previous approaches, might be useful in preparing various polymeric particles.

Subjects

MICROENCAPSULATION; SOLVENT extraction; EMULSIONS; HYDROLYSIS; ISOPROPYL alcohol

Publication

Journal of Microencapsulation, 2012, Vol 29, Issue 4, p380

ISSN

0265-2048

Publication type

Academic Journal

DOI

10.3109/02652048.2011.651502