• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.251-258
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• 2022

Silk fibroin microparticles were fabricated using a phase separation technique between silk fibroin solution and polyvinyl alcohol. We found that the concentration of polyvinyl alcohol determines the size of microparticles. The mean diameter of the silk fibroin microparticles varied from 3.48 ㎛ to 4.05 ㎛. The silk fibroin microparticle size increased as a function of the concentration of PVA in aqueous silk solution. The resulting silk fibroin microparticles have narrow size distribution (i.e. monodisperse) and smooth/spherical surface. Also, we studied the effects of mouse serum, sodium phosphate buffer (PBS), and pH on the stability of the silk fibroin microparticles. Overall, we demonstrated the simple method to fabricate and to control the silk fibroin microparticles that makes our silk microparticles to be usable for a potential drug delivery carrier.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.1784-1788
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• 2014

The present study suggests a novel method to produce raspberry-like microparticles containing diverse functional materials inside. The raspberry-like microparticles were produced from a random assembly of uniformly-sized poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) nanoparticles via electrospraying. The solution containing the PMMA nanoparticles were supplied through the inner nozzle and compressed air was emitted through the outer nozzle. The air supply helped fast evaporation of acetone, so it enabled copious amount of microparticles as dry powder. The microparticles were highly porous both on the surface and interiors, hence various materials with a function of UV-blocking ($TiO_2$ nanoparticles and methoxyphenyl triazine) or anti-aging (ethyl(4-(2,3-dihydro-1H-indene-5-carboxyamido) benzoate)) were loaded in large amount (17 wt % versus PMMA). The surface and interior structures of the microparticles were dependent on the characteristics of functional materials. The results clearly suggest that the process to prepare the raspberry-like microparticles can be an excellent approach to generate functional microstructures.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.303-311
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• 2016

Objectives: Allergic asthma generally presents with symptoms of wheezing, coughing, breathlessness, and airway inflammation. Seonpyejeongcheon-tang (SJT) consists of 12 herbs. It originated from Jeong-cheon-tang (JT), also known as Ding-chuan-tang, composed of 7 herbs, in She-sheng-zhong-miao-fang. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of local delivery of SJT via inhalable microparticles in an asthma mouse model. Methods: Microparticles containing SJT were produced by spray-drying with leucine as an excipient. SJT microparticles were evaluated with respect to their aerodynamic properties, in vitro cytotoxicity, in vivo toxicity, and therapeutic effects on ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma in comparison with orally-administered SJT. Results: SJT microparticles provided desirable aerodynamic properties (fine particle fraction of $48.9%{\pm}6.4%$ and mass median aerodynamic diameter of $3.7{\pm}0.3{\mu}m$). SJT microparticles did not show any cytotoxicity against RAW 264.7 macrophages at concentrations of 0.01 - 3 mg/mL. Inhaled SJT microparticles decreased the levels of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, IL-17A, eotaxin and OVA-IgE in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in mice with OVA-induced asthma. These effects were verified by histological evaluation of the levels of infiltration of inflammatory cells and collagen, destructions of alveoli and bronchioles, and hyperplasia of goblet cells in lung tissues. The effects of SJT microparticles in the asthma model were equivalent to those of orally-administered SJT extract. Conclusion: This study suggests that SJT is a promising agent for inhalation therapy for patients with asthma.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.237-242
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• 2012

In this study, zein microparticles and drug-loaded zein microparticles were prepared using supercritical ASES technique. The effects of operating parameters on particle size and morphology were investigated. ASES-processed zein microparticles consisted of agglomerates of very fine unit particles. As temperature increased, the size of unit particles increased and their morphology became more spherical. The addition of water to the solvents for zein resulted in the formation of more spherical microparticles. The release characteristics of drug-loaded zein microparticles were also studied.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.424-430
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• 2011

Biodegradable poly[(glycine ethyl ester)-(phenylalanine ethyl ester) phosphazene](PGPP) microparticles were fabricated by electrohydrodynamic atomization to apply drug release test. Atomization parameters such as applied voltage, polymer concentration, and molecular weight were investigated to inspect their effects on the size and morphology of microparticles. The average diameter of PGPP microparticles decreased as increasing applied voltage and solution flow rate. Dichloromethane/dioxane mixture shows better results for the preparation of microparticles than single solvent owing to the different PGPP solubility in solvent. Blending PGPP polymers with proper molecular weights not only favored the production of spherical PGPP microparticles via electrohydrodynamic atomization, but also provided a way to adjust drug (rifampicin) release behavior. Drug-loaded biodegradable polyphosphazene microspheres can be fabricated via electrohydrodynamic atomization, which has potential use in biomedical applications.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.191-195
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• 2012

Aminated gelatin microparticles were prepared with fucoidan at concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 2.0%. In order to acquire a higher primary amino group content regarding gelatin, gelatin was synthesized by using 1,2-ethylenediamine and free amino groups of aminated gelatin microsphere sample uncrosslinked or crosslinked with fucoidan have been determined by using trinitrobenzensulfonic acid (TNBS) methods. At the smallest fucoidan concentration, the free amino group content of the aminated gelatin microparticles was highest and decreased when fucoidan concentrations were increased. Furthermore, as concentration of fucoidan increased, the release from microparticles decreased. The $in$ $vitro$ gastric mucoadhesion of microparticles were evaluated by using fluorescent-labeled microparticles in an isolated and perfused mouse stomach. The gastric mucoadhesion of the aminated gelatin microparticles was significantly improved compared with that of gelatin microparticles.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.707-711
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• 2006

Bifidobacteria-loaded alginate poly-l-lysine microparticles (bap microparticles) were prepared using an air atomization method and then freeze-dried. The viability of the bap microparticles was investigated as a function of the amount of the bifidobacteria cultures, and the addition of a yeast extract, cryoprotectants, antioxidants and neutralizer. The size of the bap microparticles with and without the bifidobacteria was $84.8{\pm}28.5\;{\mu}m$ ($mean{\pm}standard$ deviation) and $113.1{\pm}38.5\;{\mu}m$, respectively. The surface morphology was slightly ellipsoid and wrinkled regardless of the incorporating bifidobacteria. The viability gradually decreased with increasing freeze-drying time. Free-flowing powdered bap microparticles were obtained at least 12 h after freeze-drying the wetted slurry of bap microparticles. However, the particles tended to aggregate when either lactose or ascorbic acid was added. The addition of a yeast extract, cryoprotectants (glycerol and lactose), antioxidants ($NaHSO_3$ and ascorbic acid) and neutralizer $(Mg_3(PO_4)_2)$ resulted in a significantly higher viability of the bifidobacteria in the bap microparticles after freeze-drying (0.34-1.84 log) compared with the culture alone.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.835-840
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• 2003

Micron-sized alginate microparticles were formed in the water pools of reverse micelles (RM) composed of hexane/aerosol OT(AOT)/water through the gelation process between sodium alginate and $CaCl_2$. The size of microparticles formed increased as Wo (the molar ratio of water to surfactant) increased from 5 to 10. The microparticles became aggregated at Wo of 15, and stable RM no longer existed at Wo of 20. The characteristics of microparticles prepared at Wo of 5 and 10 showed significant differences in area, maximum diameter, minimum diameter, mean diameter, and perimeter of microparticles (p<0.05). However, there was no difference in appearance and roundness between the microparticles These results indicate that the size of microparticles are affected by Wo, whereas the overall shape of microparticles are not substantially influenced within Wo values used for stable RM formation. The mean diameter of microparticles was about $2{\sim}2.5\;{\mu}m$ and much smaller $(70{\sim}1,000\;times)$ than the reported sue of alginate microparticles formed in an aqueous medium.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.476-481
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• 2004

The aim of this study was to formulate a sustained release system for indomethacin (IND) with rosin gum obtained from a pine tree. Rosin microparticles were prepared by a disper­sion and dialysis method without the addition of surfactant. In order to investigate the influence of solvents on the formation of colloidal microparitcles, various solvents like ethanol, DMF, DMAc, and acetone were used. The rosin microparticles containing IND were characterized by X­ray differactometry (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The morphologies of rosin microparticles observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were spherical. The solvents used to dissolve rosin significantly affected the drug content and drug release rate of IND. The release behaviors of IND from the rosin microparticles were dependent on the drug content and size of the particles. Rosin micorparticles with a higher drug content and of a larger particle size had a slower drug release rate. Also, the IND release rate from the rosin microparticles could be regulated by the rosin content in the microparticles. From these results, rosin microparticles have the potential of being used as a sustained release system of IND.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.59-63
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• 2009

Soybean phosphatidylcholine microparticles loaded with cyclosporin A (CsA) were prepared by the modified emulsion solvent diffusion and ionic gelation method, in which chitosan on the surface of the microparticles was crosslinked with various concentrations of tripolyphosphate (TPP). The morphology of the particles was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The change of particle size and zeta-potential by chitosan on the surface of the lipid microparticles were systematically observed. The encapsulation efficiency and loading capacity of CsA in the particles were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In vitro release kinetics was studied using the dialysis method. In the results, the mean particle size and the zeta-potential of lipid microparticles increased when the attached chitosan was cross-linked (from 2.5 to 6.2 ${\mu}m$ and from -37.0 to +93.0 mV, respectively). The cyclosporin A-loaded lipid microparticles appeared discrete and spherical particles with smooth surfaces. The encapsulation efficiency of CsA was between 79% and 90% while the loading capacity was between 41% and 56%. In vitro release study showed that the crosslinkage of chitosan by TPP significantly delayed the release of CsA from the particles in a concentration-dependent manner. Thus, the release of CsA from the lipid microparticles could be controlled by tripolyphosphate used as a cross-linking agent.