INVESTIGATION ON PROCESS PARAMETERS INVOLVED IN POLYLACTIDE-CO-GLYCOLIDE MICROSPHERES PREPARATION

Indomethacin loaded polylactide-co-glycolide (PLGA) microspheres were prepared by emulsification solvent evaporation. The preparation involv es several process parameters that can affect the morphological charac teristics, the ''in vitro'' and ''in vivo'' dissolution behaviour of m icrospheres. The evaluation of three process parameters, emulsificatio n stirring rate, emulsifier concentration and dispersed phase to conti nuous phase ratio was carried out in order to correlate them to some m icrosphere properties. Results show that the variables evaluated affec t mainly microspheres drug content and, at less extent, particle size.