Investigation on process parameters involved in poly-lactide-co-glycolide microspheres preparation

Indomethacin loaded polylactide-co-glycolide (PLGA) microspheres were prepared by emulsification solvent evaporation. The preparation involves several process parameters that can affect the morphological characteristics, the "in vitro" and "in vivo" dissolution behaviour of microspheres. The evaluation of three process parameters, emulsification stirring rate, emulsifier concentration and dispersed phase to continuous phase ratio was carried out in order to correlate them to some microsphere properties. Results show that the variables evaluated affect mainly microspheres drug content and, at less extent, particle size.