Optimization of Drug Encapsulation in Chitosan Microspheres by Coaxial Electrospraying Process

Over decades, micro and nanoparticles were developed as biodegradable carrier or scaffolds to deliver and control a release of various therapeutic agents like drugs, proteins, cells, and genes. In the present study, production of chitosan microparticles and simultaneously, loading retinoic acid in the microspheres using coaxial electrospray method was statistically evaluated by response surface methodology. The results showed that the particle size and the morphology of produced microspheres may be controlled by changing some experimental conditions like the concentration of chitosan (X1), flow rate of the retinoic acid stream (X2), chitosan to the retinoic acid ratio (X3), and intensity of the electrical force (X4). The optimized condition to achieve a lowest particles size and narrow size distribution was found at 3%w/v chitosan, 0.1 mL/h flow rate of retinoic acid, the ratio of chitosan to retinoic acid equal to 6, and under a voltage of 10.7 kV. The stability of the produced microspheres chitosan in nutrient broth was studied for 10 days. The acceptable stability of the microspheres may allow them to be studied in vivo.