Microencapsulation

Micro-encapsulation
1
By
Dr. Chirag

2
CONTENTS:
INTRODUCTION
REASONS FOR MICROENCAPSULATION
FUNDAMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS
CORE MATERIAL
COATING MATERIAL
RELEASE MECHANISMS
METHODS OF PREPARATION
APPLICATIONS OF MICROENCAPSULATION
PHYSICOCHEMICAL EVALUATION
ADVANTAGES
CONCLUSION

Microencapsulation is a process by which solids, liquids or
even gases may be enclosed in microscopic particles by
formation of thin coatings of wall material around the
substances.
INTRODUCTION
3
Definition :

Ø A well designed controlled drug delivery system
- can overcome some of the problems of conventional therapy.
- enhance the therapeutic efficacy of a given drug.
5

Ø To obtain maximum therapeutic efficacy, drug is to be
delivered :
-to the target tissue
-in the optimal amount
- in the right period of time
there by causing little toxicity and minimal side effects.
6

Ø One such approach is using microspheres as carriers for drugs.
Ø Microspheres are characteristically free flowing powders
Ø consisting of proteins or synthetic polymers
Ø biodegradable in nature
Ø particle size less than 200 µm.
7

Red one’s are R.B.C
Purple one’s are microspheres 10

REASONS FOR MICROENCAPSULATION
Ø Isolation of core from its surroundings,
as in isolating vitamins from the deteriorating effects of oxygen.
Ø retarding evaporation of a volatile core.
Ø improving the handling properties of a sticky material.
11

Ø isolating a reactive core from chemical attack.
Ø for controlled release of drugs.
Ø masking the taste or odor of the core.
Ø for safe handling of the toxic materials.
Ø to get targeted release of the drug,
12

FUNDAMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS
Ø nature of the core and coating materials.
Ø the stability and release characteristics of the coated materials.
Ø the microencapsulation methods.
13

CORE MATERIAL
Ø The core material is defined as the specific material to be
coated.
Ø The core material can be in liquid or solid in nature.
Ø The composition of the core material can be varied
- as the liquid core can include dispersed and/or dissolved
material.
. 14

Ø The solid core can be single solid substance or mixture of
active constituents, stabilizers, diluents, excipients and release-
rate retardants or accelerators.
15

COATING MATERIAL
Ø The selection of coating material decides the physical and
chemical properties of the resultant microcapsules/microspheres.
Ø While selecting a polymer the product requirements should be
taken into consideration are:
- stabilization
- reduced volatility
- release characteristics
- environmental conditions, etc. 16

17
POLYMERS
NATURAL SYNTHETIC
BIODEGRADABLE

Ex:
Polyanhydrides
LacDdes,glycolides
NON-
BIODEGRADABLE

Ex:
epoxy polymers
acrolein

PROTEINS
Ex:
albumins
gelaDn
collagen
CARBOHYDRATES
Ex:
starch
carrageenan
CHEMICALLY MODIFIED
CARBOHYDRATES
Ex:
poly acryl dextran
poly acryl starch

ClassiﬁcaDon of polymers

Ø The polymer should be capable of forming a film that is
cohesive with the core material.
Ø It should be chemically compatible, non-reactive with the
core material.
Ø It should provide the desired coating properties such as:
- strength
-flexibility,
-impermeability,
-optical properties and stability. 18

Ø Generally hydrophilic / hydrophobic polymers /a combination
of both are used for the microencapsulation process.
Ø A number of coating materials have been used successfully
examples :
- Gelatin
- polyvinyl alcohol
- ethyl cellulose
- cellulose acetate phthalate etc. 19

Ø The film thickness can be varied considerably depending
on:
- the surface area of the material to be coated
- Other physical characteristics of the system.
Ø The microcapsules may consist of a single particle or
clusters of particles.
20

Ø After isolation from the liquid manufacturing vehicle
and drying, the material appears as a free flowing powder.
Ø The powder is suitable for formulation as:
- compressed tablets
- hard gelatin capsules
- suspensions and other dosage forms.
21

22
Morphology of Microcapsules
The morphology of microcapsules depends mainly on the core
material and the deposition process of the shell.
1- Mononuclear (core-shell) microcapsules contain the shell around
the core.
2- Polynuclear capsules have many cores enclosed within the shell.
3- Matrix encapsulation in which the core material is distributed
homogeneously into the shell material.
- In addition to these three basic morphologies, microcapsules can
also be mononuclear with multiple shells, or they may form clusters
of
microcapsules.

RELEASE MECHANISMS
Ø Even when the aim of a microencapsulation application is
the isolation of the core from its surrounding, the wall must
be ruptured at the time of use.
Ø A variety of release mechanisms have been proposed for
microcapsules :
24

Ø by pressure or shear stress.
Ø by melting the wall.
Ø by dissolving it under particular conditions, as in the case of
an enteric drug coating.
25

Ø by solvent action
Ø by enzyme attack
Ø by chemical reaction
Ø by hydrolysis or slow disintegration.
26

METHODS OF PREPARATION
Preparation of microspheres should satisfy certain
criteria:
Ø The ability to incorporate reasonably high concentrations of
the drug.
Ø Stability of the preparation after synthesis with a clinically
acceptable shelf life.
27

Ø Controlled particle size and dispersability in aqueous
vehicles for injection.
Ø Release of active reagent with a good control over a wide
time scale.
Ø Biocompatibility with a controllable biodegradability.
Ø Susceptibility to chemical modification.
28

MICROENCAPSULATION METHODS
Ø Air suspension
Ø Coacervation phase separation
Ø Multiorifice-
Ø process
Ø Spray drying and congealing
Ø Pan coating
29

Ø Solvent evaporation techniques
Ø Electrostatic deposition
Ø Vaccum deposition
Ø Polymerization
30

AIR SUSPENSION:
Ø solid, particulate core materials are dispersed in a supporting
air stream.
Ø The coating material is sprayed on the air suspended
particles.
Ø Within the coating chamber, particles are suspended on an
upward moving air stream.
34

Ø The design of the chamber and its operating parameters
effect a recirculating flow of the particles through the coating
zone portion of the chamber, where a coating material, usually
a polymer solution, is spray applied to the moving particles.
Ø During each pass through the coating zone, the core material
receives an increment of coating material.
35

Ø The cyclic process is repeated, perhaps several hundred times
during processing, depending on:
- the purpose of microencapsulation
- the coating thickness desired
- Until the core material particles are thoroughly encapsulated.
Ø The supporting air stream also serves to dry the product while it
is being encapsulated.
38

39
Schematics of a fluid-bed coater.
(a) Top spray;
(b) bottom spray;
(c) tangential spray

Ø Drying rates are directly related to the volume temperature of
the supporting air stream.
40

COACERVATION PHASE SEPARATION
Microencapsulation by coacervation phase separation is
generally attributed to The National Cash Register (NCR)
Corporation and the patents of B.K. Green et al.
41

Ø The mechanism of microcapsule formation for this
processes is in which the phase separation is carried out.
Ø In simple coacervation a desolvation agent is added for phase
separation, whereas complex coacervation involves
complexation between two oppositely charged polymers.
42

The process consists of three steps:
Ø Formation of three immiscible phases;
§ solvent.
§ a core material phase.
§ a coating material phase.
Ø Deposition of the coating material on the core
material.
Ø Rigidizing the coating usually by thermal, cross linking or
desolvation techniques to form a microcapsule. 43

Ø The core material is dispersed in a solution of the coating
polymer.
Ø The coating material phase, an immiscible polymer in liquid
state is formed by
(i) changing temperature of polymer solution
(ii) addition of salt,
e.g. addition of sodium sulphate solution to gelatine solution in
vitamin encapsulation ,
44

(iii) addition of nonsolvent, e.g. addition of isopropyl ether to
methyl ethyl ketone solution of cellulose acetate butyrate
(methylscopalamine hydrobromide is core),
(iv) addition of incompatible polymer to the polymer solution, e.g.
addition of polybutadiene to the solution of ethylcellulose in
toluene (methylene blue as core material),

(v) inducing polymer – polymer interacDon, e.g. interacDon of

gum Arabic and gelaDne at their iso-electric point.
45

Ø Second step, includes deposition of liquid polymer upon the
core material.
Ø Finally, the prepared microcapsules are stabilized by
crosslinking, desolvation or thermal treatment.
Ø Crosslinking is the formation of chemical links between
molecular chains to form a three-dimensional network of
connected molecules.
46

MULTIORIFICE-CENTRIFUGAL PROCESS
Ø The Southwest Research Institute (SWRI) has developed this
method.
Ø It is a mechanical process for producing microcapsules.
Ø centrifugal forces are used to hurl a core material particle through
an enveloping microencapsulation membrane.
48

Ø Processing variables include:
§ the rotational speed of the cylinder,
§ the flow rate of the core and coating materials,
§ the concentration, viscosity, surface tension of the core
material.
49

Ø The multiorifice-centrifugal process is capable for
microencapsulating liquids and solids of varied size ranges,
with diverse coating materials.
Ø The encapsulated product can be supplied as
- slurry in the hardening media
- dry powder.
Ø Production rates of 50 to 75 pounds per hour.
50

PAN COATING
Ø suitable for relatively large particles.
Ø solid particles greater than 600 microns in size are generally
coated by pan coating.
Ø extensively employed for the Preparation of controlled
release beads.
51

Ø Medicaments are usually coated onto various spherical
substrates such as sugar seeds and the coated with
protective layers of various polymers.
Ø The coating is applied as a solution or as an atomized
spray to the desired solid core material in the coating pan.
52

Ø Usually, to remove the coating solvent, warm air is passed
over the coated materials as the coatings are being applied in
the coating pans.
Ø In some cases, final solvent removal is accomplished in
drying oven.
53

56
CO EXTRUSION
1- A dual fluid stream of liquid core and
shell materials is
pumped through concentric tubes and
forms droplets
under the influence of vibration.
2-The shell is then hardened by chemical
cross linkings,
cooling, or solvent evaporation.
- Different types of extrusion nozzles have
been
developed in order to optimize the process

57
Schematic presentation of the Co-
extrusion process

SPRAY DRYING AND SPRAY CONGEALING
Ø both process involve
-Dispersing the core material in a liquefied coating
Substance /spraying or introducing the coating mixture on to core
material.
-solidification of coating material
Ø The principal difference between the two methods, is the means
by which coating solidification is accomplished.
59

Ø Coating solidification in spray drying is effected by rapid
evaporation of a solvent in which the coating material is
dissolved.
Ø Coating solidification in spray congealing method is
accomplished by
-thermally congealing a molten coating material or
-by solidifying a dissolved coating by introducing the coating
core material mixture into a nonsolvent.
60

Ø Removal of the nonsolvent or solvent from the coated
product is then accomplished by sorption extraction or
evaporation techniques.
61

Ø Microencapsulation by spray-drying is a low-cost commercial
process.
Ø Mostly used for the encapsulation of fragrances, oils and flavours.
Ø Core particles are dispersed in a polymer solution and sprayed into
a hot chamber.
Ø The shell material solidifies onto the core particles as the solvent
evaporates such that the microcapsules obtained are of polynuclear
or matrix type.
62

Ø Chitosan microspheres cross-linked with three different cross-
linking agents viz,
-tripolyphosphate (TPP),
-formaldehyde (FA)
-gluteraldehyde (GA) have been prepared by spray drying
technique.
Ø The influence of these cross-linking agents on the properties of
spray dried chitosan microspheres was extensively investigated.
63

Ø The particle size and encapsulation efficiencies of thus
prepared chitosan microspheres ranged mainly between 4.1–
4.7µm and 95.12–99.17%, respectively.
Ø Surface morphology, % erosion, % water uptake and drug
release properties of the spray dried chitosan microspheres was
remarkably influenced by the type (chemical or ionic) and
extent (1 or 2%w/w) of cross-linking agents.
64

Ø Spray dried chitosan microspheres cross-linked with TPP exhibited
higher swelling capacity, % water uptake, % erosion and drug release
rate at both the cross-linking extent (1 and 2%w/w) when compared
to those cross-linked with FA and GA.
Ø The sphericity and surface smoothness of the spray dried chitosan
microspheres was lost when the cross-linking extent was increased
from 1 to 2%w/w.
65

Ø Release rate of the drug from spray dried chitosan
microspheres decreased when the cross-linking extent was
increased from 1 to 2%w/w.
Ø The physical state of the drug in chitosan-TPP, chitosan-FA
and chitosan-GA matrices was confirmed by the X-ray
diffraction (XRD) study and found that the drug remains in a
crystalline state even after its encapsulation.
66

Ø Release of the drug from chitosan-TPP, chitosan-FA and
chitosan-GA matrices followed Fick's law of diffusion.
67

Ø Spray congealing can be done by spray drying equipment where
protective coating will be applied as a melt.
Ø Core material is dispersed in a coating material melt rather than a
coating solution.
Ø Coating solidification is accomplished by spraying the hot mixture
into cool air stream.
68

Ø Waxes, fatty acids, and alcohols, polymers which are solids at
room temperature but meltable at reasonable temperature are
applicable to spray congealing.
69

SchemaDc illustraDng the process of micro-encapsulaDon by spray-drying.
70

72
Spinning Disk
Ø Suspensions of core particles in liquid shell material are
poured into a rotating disc.
Ø Due to the spinning action of the disc, the core particles
become coated with the shell material.
Ø The coated particles are then cast from the edge of the disc
by centrifugal force.
Ø After that the shell material is solidified by external means
(usually cooling).
Ø This technology is rapid, cost-effective, relatively simple and
has high production efficiencies.

73
Microencapsulation by spinning disc

SOLVENT EVAPORATION
Ø Solvent evaporation techniques are carried out in a liquid
manufacturing vehicle (O/W emulsion) which is prepared by
agitation of two immiscible liquids.
Ø The process involves dissolving microcapsule coating
(polymer) in a volatile solvent which is immiscible with the
liquid manufacturing vehicle phase.
Ø A core material (drug) to be microencapsulated is dissolved or
dispersed in the coating polymer solution. 74

Ø With agitation, the core – coating material mixture is dispersed
in the liquid manufacturing vehicle phase to obtain appropriate
size microcapsules.
Ø Agitation of system is continued until the solvent partitions into
the aqueous phase and is removed by evaporation.
Ø This process results in hardened microspheres which contain
the active moiety.
75

Ø Several methods can be used to achieve dispersion
of the oil phase in the continuous phase.
Ø The most common method is the use of a propeller style blade
attached to a variable speed motor.
Ø Various process variables include methods of forming
dispersions, Evaporation rate of the solvent for the coating
polymer, temperature cycles and agitation rates.
76

Ø Important factors that must be considered in solvent
evaporation techniques include choice of
-vehicle phase and
-solvent for the polymer coating.
Ø These choice greatly influence microcapsule properties as
well as the choice of solvent recovery techniques.
Ø The solvent evaporation technique is applicable to a wide
variety of liquid and solid core materials.
77

Ø The core materials may be either water soluble or water
insoluble materials.
Ø A variety of film forming polymers can be used as coatings.
78

ELECTROSTATIC DEPOSITION
Ø This method is suitable for both solid and liquid droplets
Ø Core and coating material are imparted electric charges by means of
high voltage.
Ø Core is charged and placed in coating chamber.
79

Ø Coating material is charged in solution when it leaves the
atomizer device prior to spray as a mist.
Ø Since both are oppositely charged coating material gets
deposited on core due to electrostatic attraction.
80

VACCUM DEPOSITION
Ø This is not a popular technique.
Ø Coating material is vapourised in chamber in which core material
is present.
Ø Coating material gets deposited on core particles.
Ø Core particles are moved on conveyor system and they encounter
hot vapours of coating material Which gets deposited on them
81

POLYMERIZATION
Ø A relatively new microencapsulation method utilizes
polymerization techniques to form protective microcapsule.
Ø The methods involve the reaction of monomeric units
located at the interface existing between a core material
substance and a continuous phase in which the core material
is dispersed.
82

Interfacial polymerization ( IFP)
Ø The capsule shell will be formed at the surface of the droplet
or
particle by polymerization of the reactive monomers.
Ø The substances used are multifunctional monomers.
Ø Generally used monomers include multifunctional isocyanates
and multifunctional acid chlorides.
Ø These will be used either individually on in combination.
83

Ø The multifunctional monomer dissolved in liquid core
material
Ø it will be dispersed in aqueous phase containing dispersing
agent.
Ø A coreactant multifunctional amine will be added to the
mixture.
Ø This results in rapid polymerization at interface and
generation of capsuleshell takes place.
84

Ø A polyurea shell will be formed when isocyanate reacts
with amine,
Ø polynylon or polyamide shell will be formed when acid
chloride reacts with amine.
Ø When isocyanate reacts with hydroxyl containing
monomer produces polyurethane shell.
85

In situ polymerization
Ø Like IFP the capsule shell formation occurs because of
polymerization of monomers.
Ø In this process no reactive agents are added to the core material.
Ø polymerization occurs exclusively in the continuous phase and on
the continuous phase side of the interface formed by the dispersed
core material and continuous phase.
86

Ø Initially a low molecular weight prepolymer will be formed,
as time goes on the prepolymer grows in size.
Ø it deposits on the surface of the dispersed core material there
by generating solid capsule shell.
87

APPLICATIONS OF MICROENCAPSULATION
The technology has been used widely in the design of controlled
release and sustained release dosage forms.
Ø To mask the bitter taste of drugs like Paracetamol,
Nitrofurantoin etc.
Ø to reduce gastric and other G.I. tract irritations.
88

§ Sustained release Aspirin preparations have been reported to
cause significantly less G.I. bleeding than conventional
preparations.
Ø A liquid can be converted to a pseudo-solid for easy
handling and storage. eg.Eprazinone.
89

Ø Hygroscopic properties of core materials may be reduced by
microencapsulation e.g. Sodium chloride.
Ø Carbon tetra chlorides and a number of other substances have
been microencapsulated to reduce their odour and volatility.
Ø Microencapsulation has been employed to provide protection to
the core materials against atmospheric effects, e.g.Vit.A.Palmitate.
90

Ø Separation of incompatible substance has been achieved by
encapsulation.
91

IN VITRO METHODS
Ø There is a need for experimental methods which allow the
release characteristics and permeability of a drug through
membrane to be determined.
Ø For this purpose, a number of in vitro and in vivo
techniques have been reported.
Ø In vitro drug release studies are employed as a quality
control procedure in pharmaceutical production, in product
development etc. 92

Ø The influence of technologically defined conditions and
difficulty in simulating in vivo conditions has led to development
of a number of in vitro release methods for buccal formulations;
however no standard in vitro method has yet been developed.
Ø Different workers have used apparatus of varying designs and
under varying conditions, depending on the shape and application
of the dosage form developed
93

BEAKER METHOD
Ø The dosage form in this method is made to adhere at the
bottom of the beaker containing the medium and stirred
uniformly using over head stirrer.
Ø Volume of the medium used in the literature for the
-studies varies from 50- 500 ml
-stirrer speed form 60-300 rpm. 94

DISSOLUTION APPARATUS
Ø Standard USP or BP dissolution apparatus have been
used to study in vitro release profiles.
Ø Dissolution medium used for the study varied from
100-500 ml and speed of rotation from 50-100 rpm.
95

ADVANTAGES
Ø Reliable means to deliver the drug to the target site with
specificity.
Ø The desired concentration can be maintained at the site of
interest without untoward effects .
Ø Solid biodegradable microspheres have the potential for
the controlled release of drug.
96

Ø Microspheres received much attention for targeting of
anticancer drugs to the tumour.
Ø The size, surface charge and surface hydrophilicity of
microspheres are found to be important in determining the fate of
particles in vivo.
Ø Studies on the macrophage uptake of microspheres have
demonstrated their potential in targeting drugs to pathogens
residing intracellularly.
97

CONCLUSION
The microencapsulation technique offers a variety of
opportunities such as
Ø Protection.
Ø Masking.
Ø reduced dissolution rate.
Ø facilitation of handling.
Ø targeting of the active ingredient.
98

Ø facilitates accurate delivery of small quantities of potent drugs.
Ø reduced drug concentrations at sites other than the target organ
or tissue.
Ø protection of labile compounds before and after administration
and prior to appearance at the site of action.
Ø In future by combining various other approaches,
microencapsulation technique will find the vital place in novel
drug delivery system.
99

Microencapsulation

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