Fabrication of betamethasone micro- and nanoparticles using supercritical antisolvent technology: In vitro drug release study and Caco-2 cell cytotoxicity evaluation

Abstract

Poor solubility limits the pharmacological activities of betamethasone (BM), including its anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects. To improve the aqueous solubility and dissolution rate of BM, supercritical antisolvent (SAS) technology was used to prepare BM microparticles and BM–polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) solid dispersion nanoparticles. The effects of temperature, pressure, solution feeding rate, and drug concentration on particle formation were investigated using both single-factor and orthogonal experimental methods, and the optimal preparation process was screened. The physicochemical properties of the BM particles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. After the SAS process, the particle size was reduced significantly and the crystalline shape was altered, which considerably increased the solubility and dissolution rate of BM. Furthermore, the toxicity of BM to live cells was reduced because of the BM–PVP solid dispersions.