Development of a scalable procedure for fine calcium alginate particle preparation

A simple and scalable two step method for the preparation of loaded calcium alginate fine powder was developed. Spray-dryer was used to prepare sodium alginate particles and all the spraying parameters were studied to optimize the powder characteristics. The particles were gelified successively by external gelation in a calcium chloride solution. Two model active pharmaceutical ingredients were encapsulated in alginate particles (i.e., bacitracin and bovine serum albumin). The obtained powders show the suitable characteristics for pulmonary drug delivery.