Electrospray Method: Processing Parameters Influence on Morphology and Size of PCL Particles

Abstract

The polymeric microparticles using electrospray technique have been used effectively as the drug carrier, whereby controlled release of drug. The electrosprayed particles morphology and size dictated the degradation of polymer matrix, therefore they influenced the release profile from drug loaded microparticles. The effects of electrospray processing parameters (flow rate, applied voltage and distance from the tip of needle to collector) on morphology and size of polycaprolactone (PCL) particles were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and ImageJ software. In this research, the PCL solution was prepared by dissolving PCL in Dichloromethane at 4.5 % solution. In addition, processing parameters such as the flow rate (0.5 mL/h, 1 mL/h, 1.5 mL/h, 2 mL/h and 4 mL/h), the applied voltage (15 kV, 18 kV and 24 kV) and the collecting distance (15 cm, 20 cm, and 25 cm) were changed to examine the effects of them on size and morphology of PCL particles. The results indicated that at the suitable electrospraying parameters (18 kV, 1.5 mL/h, 20-25 cm), microparticles have obtained the uniform and stable morphology while at higher flow rate (2 mL/h and 4 mL/h), the particles were deformed and had bigger size.

The Electrosprayed Insulin-Loaded Polycaprolactone Microparticles as a Drug Carrier

“…The diffusion of insulin from the surface of PCL MPs in the PBS solution caused the burst release of insulin. The obtained results well agree with the drug release behaviors of the electrosprayed drug-loaded microparticles, from previous reports [7,8,16]. After the initial release of insulin, the release rate became slower and more stable for 2 to 7 days.…”

“…The total analysis time was 10 min for insulin standard and extracted insulin, while the retention time of insulin is 3.05 min. [16,17,21]. This research indicated that the electrosprayed PCL MPs could encapsulate insulin effectively.…”

“…Moreover, it gave advantages such as an optimized dose of drug/protein administration, increasing safety and reducing side effects by controlling the release of drug/protein [9,14,15]. In previous studies, the influences of polymer concentration and electrospraying parameters on the drug/protein-loaded PCL MPs morphology including Paclitaxel or Taxol [8,16], β-Oestradiol [7], Bovine serum albumin [17] were studied. In stomach, insulin couldn't have preserved the structure and the biological activity because of the low pH and enzymatic degradation.…”

Continuous ink supply and circulation system for a multi-nozzle electrospray

“…This is in agreement with several previous reports. 26,29,30) For example, Vu et al 30) found that a low flow rate can generate small droplet diameters (4.347 um) and Li et al 31) showed that by increasing the flow rate from 20 to 100 μl h −1 the average droplet diameter increases from 7.42 to 12.24 μm. In a multi-nozzle circulating ink electrospray system, the height of the ink supply reservoir is important for controlling the flow rate according to the desired particle size.…”

Micronization of Hydrothermally Extracted Phytochemical Compounds from <i>Gracilaria</i> Sp Using Electrospraying

“…When the voltage was 12 kV, the particle diameter was 1.439 µm, and it decreased to 1.360 and 1.117 µm at higher applied voltage of 14 kV and 16 kV, respectively. It was due to the increase of field strength at higher applied stresses [12].…”