Drug Release Properties of the Microcapsules of Adriamycin Hydrochloride with Ethylcellulose Prepared by a Phase Separation Technique

Abstract

Adriamycin hydrochloride was microencapsulated with ethylcellulose [a drug delivery system for an anticancer agent] by a phase separation method to develop a prolonged release dosage form. Polyisobutylene (PIB) was used as a coacervation-inducing agent to control the particle size and drug release rate of the resultant microcapsules. With increasing concentration of PIB (1-3%) the average diameter of the microcapsules decreased, due to the fact that the microcapsules were discreted to a single microcapsule. At low concentration of PIB, the resultant microcapsules were agglomerated, which resulted in increasing the size. The microcapsules prepared with PIB 2% prolonged desirably the drug release from the microcapsules. A small size effects the drug release rate for the microcapsules with PIB 2 and 3%.