Drug Release Properties of the Microcapsules of Adriamycin Hydrochloride with Ethylcellulose Prepared by a Phase Separation Technique

Adriamycin hydrochloride was microencapsulated with ethylcellulose by a phase separation method to develop a prolonged release dosage form. Polyisobutylene (PIB) was used as a coacervation-inducing agent to control the particle size and drug release rate of the resultant microcapsules. With increasing the concentration of PIB (1 to 3 %) the average diameter of the microcapsules decreased, due to the fact that the microcapsules were discreted to a single microcapsule. At low concentration of PIB, the resultant microcapsules were agglomerated, which resulted in increasing the size. The microcapsules prepared with PIB 2 % prolonged desirably the drug release from the microcapsules. A little size effects of the microcapsules on the drug release rate was found for the microcapsules with PIB 2 % and 3 %.