Composite Microspheres

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a novel composite microsphere delivery system composed of poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) and poly(acryloyl hydroxyethyl starch) (acryloyl derivatized HES; AcHES) hydrogel using bovine insulin as a model therapeutic protein. Methods. Insulin was incorporated into the AcHES hydrogel micro-particles by a swelling technique, and then the insulin-containing AcHES microparticles were encapsulated in a PLGA matrix using a solvent extraction/evaporation method. The composite microspheres were characterized for loading efficiency, particle size, and in vitro protein release. Protein stability was examined by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, high-performance liquid chromatography, and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The hydrogel dispersion process was optimized to reduce the burst effect of microspheres and avoi