Optimization of Biodegradable PLA/PCL Microspheres Preparation as Controlled Drug Delivery Carrier

Abstract

Abstract In this paper, microspheres were prepared as controlled drug delivery carrier. Microspheres were prepared using o/w emulsification method. The core materials of microspheres were polyblend of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL) with the composition of 60:40 using Span 80 as an emulsifier. PLA and PCL were dissolved into dichloromethane then emulsified and dispersed into water to form microspheres. The sizes and uniformity of microspheres can be influenced by emulsifier volume and dispersion stirring time. This study observes the appearance, texture, physical sizes, and distribution of microspheres particle sizes at various volumes of Span 80 and dispersion stirring time. The blend of PLA and PCL was only formed through physical interaction between them. The appearance and physical sizes of microspheres were observed by optical microscope, and the distribution sizes of the microsphere can be determined by PSA, the further analysis through SEM to observe the surface texture and also to know more the influence of dispersion stirring time to the size and uniformity of microsphere. It obtains that at volume 4 mL of Span 80 with dispersion stirring time of 30 minutes showing the small sizes and more uniform as well as just fewer microspheres were broken