PREPARATION OF POLYMERIC MICROSPHERES BY THE SOLVENT EVAPORATION METHOD USING SUCROSE STEARATE AS A DROPLET STABILIZER

Polymeric microspheres containing nicardipine hydrochloride (HCl) as a reference drug were prepared with the acrylic polymers Eudragit RS an d L by the solvent evaporation method. Different concentrations of suc rose stearate as a droplet stabilizer were used. Sucrose stearate affe cted the diffusion rate of the solvent from the preliminary emulsion d roplets to the outer phase for the formation of microspheres. Increasi ng concentrations of sucrose stearate in the formulations caused incre asing porosity on the surface of the microspheres. However, a correlat ion between the concentrations of sucrose stearate and diameters of mi crospheres could not be assessed. From this point of view, during proc essing, applied stirring rate was important.