FUROSEMIDE-LOADED ETHYL CELLULOSE MICROSPHERES PREPARED BY SPHERICAL CRYSTALLIZATION TECHNIQUE - MORPHOLOGY AND RELEASE CHARACTERISTICS

Abstract

Furosemide-loaded ethyl cellulose microspheres were prepared by a spherical crystallization technique. The average diameters where about 330-335-mu-m and the drug contents in the microspheres were 65-84%. The size and formation of microspheres can be controlled by the rate of agitation. Furthermore, as the concentration of ethyl cellulose increased, the release rate of furosemide decreased. The results are examined kinetically and the mechanism is discussed. Dissolution data indicated that the release followed the Higuchi matrix model. These results show that furosemide-loaded ethyl cellulose microspheres could be prepared providing a controlled release property.