Preparation of polymeric microspheres by the solvent evaporation method using sucrose stearate as a droplet stabilizer

Abstract

Polymeric micro spheres containing nicardipine hydrochloride (HCI) as a reference drug were prepared with the acrylic polymers Eudragit RS and L by the solvent evaporation method. Different concentrations of sucrose stearate as a droplet stabilizer were used. Sucrose stearate affected the diffusion rate of the solvent from the preliminary emulsion droplets to the outer phase for the formation of microspheres. Increasing concentrations of sucrose stearate in the formulations caused increasing porosity on the surface of the microspheres. However, a correlation between the concentrations of sucrose stearate and diameters of micro spheres could not be assessed. From this point of view, during processing, applied stirring rate was important.

Key Words:

• Polymeric nicardipine microspheres
• hydrochloride
• solvent evaporation
• droplet stabilizer
• sucrose stearate