PREPARATION AND IN VITRO RELEASE OF SPRAY-DRIED CHITOSAN MICROSPHERES FOR LEVOFLOXACIN DELIVERY

摘要

Levofloxacin (LOF) was incorporated into chitosan microspheres for controlled release. The microspheres were prepared by spray-drying technology combined with glutaraldehyde cross-linking. The drug-loaded microspheres showed a golf ball-like particals with a size distribution between 0.5 and 2 μrn. The encapsulation efficiency of LOF within microspheres was up to 88.78%. The in vitro release behavior of LOF-CS microspheres was investigated and showed two distinct stages. The present investigation provides a scope for using levofloxacin-loaded chitosan microspheres for combatting ocular surface infections.