Preparation and Characterization of Release Behavior of PVA: Na-Alg Microspheres Containing Fampridine.

INTRODUCTION: Encapsulation of fampridine was achieved using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and sodium alginate (Na-Alg) polymers. Glutaraldehyde (GA) and hydrochloric acid (HCl) were used as cross-linking agents. Polymer ratio (PVA: Na-Alg), drug: polymer (d: p) ratio, cross-linking agent ratio, and cross-linking time were evaluated on fampridine release. In this study, the effect of various processing parameters was examined on fampridine release from PVA: NA-Alg microspheres for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS).
METHODS: Release studies were analyzed using an ultraviole- visible (UV) spectrophotometer. The microspheres were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. (FT-IR). The particle size of fampridine-loaded microspheres were determined by the laser-light-scattering device
RESULTS: It was determined that the highest release of fampridine obtained with microspheres prepared with PVA: Na-Alg (w: w) ratio as 1: 1, drug: polymer ratio (w: w) as 1: 2, cross-linking agent concentration as 2.5% (w: w) GA + 3% (w: w) HCl, and cross-linking time as 5 minutes. It was observed that all microspheres have 300- 800 µm particle size and the particule size of the microspheres increases d: p ratio paralelly.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: O5 is the highest fampridine release and has the smallest particle size. In this paper, an alternative and unique model has been proposed for the original product used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Due to the absence of a similar study for fampridine, it is believed that this research will guide future studies.