Microparticulated systems based on chitosan and poly(vinyl alcohol) with potential ophthalmic applications

Abstract

Spherical microparticles for encapsulation of drugs for the treatment of diseases, with a diameter ranging between 2 and 4 µm, were obtained by double crosslinking (ionic and covalent) of chitosan and poly(vinyl alcohol) blend in a water-in-oil emulsion. Microparticles characterisation was carried out in terms of structural, morphological and swelling properties in aqueous media. The presence of chitosan in particles composition confers them a pH-sensitive character. Toxicity and hemocompatibility tests prove the biocompatible character of microparticles. The pilocarpine loading capacity is high as well as the release efficiency which increases up to 72 and 82% after 6 h. The obtained results recommend the microparticles as sustained release drug carriers for the treatment of eye diseases.

• Chitosan
• double crosslinking
• microparticles
• poly(vinyl alcohol)
• pilocarpine

Declaration of interest

This work has been performed in the frame of the Partnership Program in priority areas – PN II, under MEN – UEFISCDI authority, project code PN-II-PT-PCCA-2013-4-1570 (project number 218/2014). The authors report no declarations of interest.