Physical properties of microspheres prepared by blending poly(lactide-co-glycolide) and poly lactide

In the present study, ~2.0-μm microspheres of blended poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) and poly lactide (PLA), both are biodegradable and biocompatible, were prepared either through a preparation technique for particles using a microhomogenizer or membrane emulsification technique. To understand the potential of the drug delivery system (DDS) formulation, fundamental physical properties, degradation and drug release studies on microspheres prepared using two particle preparation techniques were analysed. The PLGA/PLA particles prepared using the microhomogenizer were polydisperse or irregular-shaped, but the particles prepared using the membrane emulsification technique were very monodisperse and spherical. Increasing the PLA fraction in PLGA/PLA microspheres allowed control over the degradation of the prepared particles. Furthermore, such microspheres could also be used for the controlled drug release behaviour of particles. The particles prepared using the membrane emulsification technique exhibited better controlled drug releasing behaviour than those prepared using the microhomogenizer. From the above, this study revealed that PLGA/PLA microspheres prepared using the membrane emulsification method were advantageous for the study of DDS formulations.