Effect of spray-drying temperature on the formation of flower-like lactose for griseofulvin loading

The effect of spray-drying temperature has been studied for the first time on the formation of flower-like lactose for drug loading in this work. The synthesis of the flower-like lactose involves two steps, namely spray drying and ethanol washing. Four inlet temperatures (140 degrees C, 150 degrees C, 160 degrees C and 200 degrees C) have been used in the spray-drying step. The effect of the spray-drying temperature was significant on the formation of flower-like lactose, in terms of crystallinity, porosity and drug loading capacity. Higher inlet temperatures are more likely to produce lactose in the beta form. The engineered flower-like lactose is highly porous, with pores of 1.4, 3.4 and 29.3 nm (diameter). Compared with other inlet temperatures, the flower-like lactose dried at 150 degrees C has the lowest degree of crystallinity, the largest pore surface area (38 +/- 4 m(2)/g) and pore volume (0.65 +/- 0.09 cm(3)/g), and the highest griseofulvin loading capacity (16.2 +/- 0.3%, w/w). A griseofulvin dissolution test has suggested that the flower-like lactose can be used as a drug carrier to enhance drug solubility.