Formulation, and Evaluation of Pentoxifylline-Loaded Poly(ε-caprolactone) Microspheres

Pentoxifylline-loaded poly(e-caprolactone) microspheres were prepared by solvent evaporation technique with different drug to carrier ratio F1 (1: 3), F2 (1: 4), F3 (1: 5) and F4 (1: 6). The microspheres were characterized for particle size, scanning electron microscopy, FT-IR study, percentage yield, drug entrapment, stability studies and for in vitro release kinetics. The shape of microspheres was found to be spherical by SEM. The size of microspheres was found to be ranging 59.3 +/- 6.3 mu m to 86.22 +/- 4.23 mu m. Among the four drug to carrier ratio, F3 (1:5) showed maximum percentage yield of 83.34 +/- 2.46% and F2 (1:4) showed highest drug entrapment of 76.92 +/- 3.24% w/w. It was found that there was no interaction between drug and polymer by FT-IR study. No appreciable difference was observed in the extent of degradation of product during 60 d in the microspheres, which were stored at various temperatures. In the in vitro release study formulation F2 (1: 4) showed 90.34% drug release at 15 h and found to be sustained. The release followed Higuchi kinetics indicating diffusion controlled drug release.