Multiparticulation of ciprofloxacin HCl-encapsulated chitosan microspheres using poly(dl-lactide-co-glycolide)

In this study, we prepared poly(dl-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA)-coated chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) microspheres. Ciprofloxacin HCl (CIP)-encapsulated COS microspheres were prepared by the pressure homogenization and spray drying technique. The microspheres have spherical shapes and their particle size was in the range of 2–3 μm in diameter. When they were coated with PLGA, PLGA-coated COS microspheres showed rough spherical surfaces, indicating that COS microspheres might be existed on the surface of particles in addition to the inside of particles. The efficiency of loading and size of particle were increased with the increase of the amount of PLGA feeding amount. At the effect of PLGA series, the loading efficiency and particle size were in the order of RG504H > RG503H > RG502H. Drug release rate was decreased with the increase of the amount of PLGA feeding and initial burst was 3–10 days according to the PLGA feeding amount. At the effect of PLGA series, drug release rate was in the order of RG502H > RG503H > RG504H. When acetone was used, drug release rate was slightly increased. PLGA-coated COS microspheres were successfully prepared and characterized.