Preparation of enteric microsphere of oleanolic acid dihemiphthalate sodium by salting-out action using spherical crystallization technique.

AIM: Enteric microspheres were prepared to prevent the interaction of drug with gastric acid and to improve its bioavailability.

METHODS

The enteric microspheres with a matrix structure were successfully produced using a spherical crystallization technique. Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate (HP-55), an enteric material, was coprecipitated with the drug by salting-out effect during the preparation process. A mixture of water and ethanol was chosen as a good solvent and dichloromethane was used as a bridging agent while 0.1 mol x L(-1) sodium chloride solution was selected as a poor solvent.

RESULTS

It is the first time to prepare microspheres by making the water-soluble drug and water-insoluble excipient coprecipitated. In vivo test demonstrated that the drug absorption from the enteric oleanolic acid dihemiphthalate sodium (OADHPS) microspheres was significantly prolonged compared to that with OADHPS powder after a lag-time. Furthermore, the drug bioavailability was 181.6% greater than that with the OADHPS powder.

CONCLUSION

The microspheres of water soluble drug could be prepared by using water phase replacing organic phase as poor solvent which decrease the quantity of organic solvent and benefit the environment prevention.