Magnetic Microsphores and Microcareuils as Carriers for Intravascular Administration of Metronidazole

Abstract

In this study gelatin microspheres of metronidazole, containing magnetite, with and without ethyloellulose costing have been prepared. The preparation is based on dispersion of a gelating-nmetronidazole-magnetite aueous suspension in liquid paraffin, followed by drying with isopropanol treatment. Coating of gelating microspheres with ethylcellulose was obtain by organic phase separation method. The magnetic responsiveness and the rheological properties of the microcapsule suspensions in physiological saline with 6% dextran, suggests that the microcapsules can be localized at a target site in vivo by meause of an externally applied magnetic field. The release of metronidazole from microspheres declined at an apparent first-order rate, but from ethylcellulose conted microcapsules followed an apparent zero-order rate. Gelatin microcapsules offer promise for attaining target site specificity.