Formulation and in vitro characterization of spray-dried antisense oligonucleotide to NF-κB encapsulated albumin microspheres

• Published in: Journal of microencapsulation Vol. 26; no. 8; pp. 692 - 700
• Main Authors: Gayakwad, Sanjay G., Bejugam, Naveen K., Akhavein, Nima, Uddin, Nasir A., Oettinger, Carl E, D'Souza, Martin J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Colchester Taylor & Francis 01.12.2009; Informa
• Subjects: antisense oligonucleotide; Biological and medical sciences; General pharmacology; Medical sciences; Microspheres; NF-kB, albumin; Pharmaceutical technology. Pharmaceutical industry; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; spray-drying; Encapsulation; Microsphere; Pharmaceutical technology; NF-kB; Albumin; Spray drying; Antisense oligonucleotide; In vitro; Characterization; Microspheres; Formulation; Microparticle; Transcription factor NFκB; spray-drying
• ISSN: 0265-2048; 1464-5246
• DOI: 10.3109/02652040802666910

The aim of this study was to formulate and characterize microspheres containing antisense oligonucleotide to NF-κB using bovine serum albumin as the polymer matrix. Microspheres were prepared by spray-drying technique with 5, 10 and 15% drug loading. Glutaraldehyde was used as a cross-linking agent. The particle sizes ranged from 3-5 µm. Microspheres were smooth and spherical in shape, as determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The yield of microspheres ranged from 70-75% and the encapsulation efficiencies were found to be in the range of 59-60%, as determined by a novel HPLC method. Zeta potential of the microspheres ranged between −39 to −53 mV, thus indicating good suspension stability in water. In-vitro release studies performed using phosphate buffer saline demonstrated extended drug release up to 72 h. Kinetic model fitting showed high correlation with the Higuchi model, suggesting that the drug release was primarily diffusion controlled.