Tropical
Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, February
2009; 8(1):
53-61
Abstract
Purpose:
The aim of the present study was to investigate the
effect of chitosan molecular weight on size, size
distribution, release rate,
mucoadhesive properties and electrostatic bonding
of alginate/chitosan microparticles containing
prednisolone
Methods:
Three mucoadhesive alginate/chitosan microparticle
formulations, f1, f2 and f3, were prepared using low,
medium and high chitosan molecular weight (MW) chitosan,
respectively, by directly spraying alginate solution
into a solution of chitosan and calcium chloride at
optimum conditions. Prednisolone was incorporated in
the alginate solution prior to spraying. The
microparticles were then evaluated for prednisolone
content, size, release rate,
and mucoadhesive
properties using appropriate methods. The
formation of electrostatic
and hydrogen bonds between
chitosan and alginate was assessed by
differential scanning calorimetetry (DSC) and Fourier
transform infrared (FTIR).
Results:
The results indicate that high MW chitosan
microparticles were significantly (p<0.05) smaller and
more uniform in size, with better mucoadhesive
properties and lower release rate than the other
formulations. FTIR and DSC studies indicate that
stronger hydrogen and electrostatic bonding in the
formulation containing high MW chitosan than inthe
other formulations
Conclusion:
The physicochemical properties of chitosan-alginate
microparticles are dependent on the molecular weight of
chitosan
Keywords:
Chitosan, Microparticle, Alginate, Molecular weight,
DSC, FITR.
