Daunorubicin-loaded Chitosan Microparticles - Preparation and Physicochemical Characterization

The present study deals with the preparation and characterization of chitosan microparticles as a drug delivery system for daunorubicin. The microparticles are prepared by the suspension method and their properties are improved by covalent crosslinking using glutaraldehyde. The obtained spherical microparticles with size of 300 μm are loaded with daunorubicin. The мorphology and chemical composition of the microparticles obtained are investigated by scanning electron microscopy and FTIR. The effect of the crosslinking and the amount of the encapsulated drug on the in vitro release kinetics is investigated by VIS spectroscopy. The release rate of daunorubicin (physically entrapped) is controlled by the degree of swelling of the microparticles hydrogel matrix. The release rate of the covalently bounded daunorubicin from chitosan microparticles in simulated intestinal fluids containing lysozyme depends on the density of crosslinking. It is found that slower drug release rates are obtained from highly crosslinked microparticles. These results indicate that chitosan microparticles have a potential as a drug delivery system for oral administration because they provide controlled release with the participation of the lysozyme enzymes in the digestive tract.