Biodegradable PLGA/Chitosan Based Microspheres for Controlled Release of Magnesium.

摘要

Magnesium is the fourth most abundant cation in the human body. Magnesium plays an indispensable role in many physiological functions and serves as an essential structural element. Hypomagnesemia is a common problem in about 10% of hospitalized patients. Available therapies for symptomatic hypomagnesemia are not efficient and well regulated. Excessive administration of therapeutic magnesium often causes hypermagnesemia. The performance of a therapeutic drug can be optimized by controlling the rate and extent of its release in the body. The goal of the present study was to fabricate and investigate the PLGA/chitosan microspheres for controlled release of magnesium. Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) is a biodegradable, biocompatible and FDA approved synthetic polymer. Chitosan is a naturally occurring biodegradable and biocompatible polysaccharide derived from chitin. We hypothesized that chitosan could be used as a surface coating of PLGA to improve controlled release of magnesium. The double emulsion solvent evaporation technique was modified and utilized to fabricate the microspheres. Magnesium gluconate (MgG) is a therapeutic drug used to treat hypomagnesemia. Ultrasonication technology was applied to encapsulate MgG in polymeric microspheres. Several physicochemical and biological properties of the microspheres, such as morphology, chemical structure, chitosan adsorption efficiency, in vitro dissolution of chitosan, magnesium encapsulation efficiency, in vitro release of magnesium and cellular compatibility were analyzed in this study. The chitosan coated and uncoated PLGA microspheres showed sustained release of magnesium and good cellular compatibility. We found that chitosan coated PLGA microspheres can significantly control the release of magnesium compared to uncoated PLGA microspheres.