Controlled Release of Drugs from Microparticles Produced by Ultrasonic Assisted Atomization Based on Biocompatible Polymers

Microencapsulation of active molecules in biocompatible polymers is a matter of great interest in pharmaceutical sciences. Ultrasonic assisted atomization as a new technique to produce microencapsulated systems seems to offer several advantages (low level of mechanical stress in materials, reduced energy request, reduced apparatuses size) with respect to more conventional techniques. In this work, fine drug-loaded particles were produced by ionic reticulation of droplets obtained by ultrasonic atomization of biopolymers solutions. The particles were then characterized in terms of morphology and drug release kinetics. Data were used to estimate the PNMS (Polymeric Network Mesh-Size) with the aims of clarifying its role in controlled drug release, and analyzing its relationships with material and process parameters. For materials and operative conditions investigated, the calculated PNMS was found consistent with a fast release of drugs of small molecular size.