Modified spray drying methods, especially a novel w/o/w emulsion-spray dryi
ng method, were developed to prepare chitosan microspheres with a sustained
drug release pattern. Release of the model drugs cimetidine and famotidine
, from the microspheres prepared by the emulsion-spray drying methods, was
greatly retarded with release lasting for several hours, compared with drug
loaded microspheres prepared by conventional-spray drying or emulsion meth
ods where drug release was almost instant. The slow release of drug was par
tly due to the poor wetting ability of the microspheres which floated on th
e surface of the dissolution medium. The addition of a wetting agent increa
sed the release rate significantly. The coating of the microspheres with ge
latin decreased the rate of release of drug in the presence of wetting agen
ts.