Drug-Loaded Pectin Microparticles Prepared by Emulsion-Solvent Evaporation

The aim of this study was to develop the pectin-based microparticles by emulsion-solvent evaporation technique. The effects of concentration and type of pectin and addition of glutaraldehyde on size, size distribution, drug crystalline state and drug dissolution from microparticles were investigated. The results showed that a model drug, indomethacin, could be encapsulated in microparticles. Higher molecular weight of pectin caused a larger in size of microparticles than the lower one. A high degree of esterification is preferred to stabilize the pectin microparticles. The powder x-ray diffractograms showed that all microparticles led to amorphous products while their physical mixture still showed the crystalline state of drug. Drug dissolution from the microparticles containing indomethacin and pectin was increased, resulting from the formation of an amorphous solid dispersion. Addition of glutaraldehyde, however, resulted in slower drug dissolution, compared to the formulations without glutaraldehyde or drug alone.