Pluronic F127/chitosan blend microspheres for mucoadhesive drug delivery

Pluronic F127/chitosan blend microspheres were prepared via emulsification and cross-linking process using glutaraldehyde as a cross-linker. Compared with chitosan microspheres fabricated under the same experimental conditions, blend microspheres exhibited better physical stability and higher swelling capacity. Puerarin, a traditional Chinese medicine, was incorporated into microparticlesas the model drug. The in vitro release of puerarin from blend microspheres was reduced because of the improved compatibility of the drug with the matrices. According to the results from in vitro adhesion experiments, mucoadhesive behavior of blend microspheres on a mucosa-like surface was similar to that of chitosan microspheres, despite their good ability of anti-protein absorption in solution.