Preparation and characterization of spray-dried gelatin microspheres encapsulating ganciclovir

The aim of this study was to prepare ganciclovir (GCV)-loaded cross-linked gelatin microspheres by spray-drying method. The microspheres were characterized in terms of particle size, surface morphology, loading efficiency, thermal behavior, physical characteristics, swelling properties, and the release profile in vitro. The major process and formulation parameters were optimized to obtain smaller particles with high loading capacity. The physical state examination confirmed the molecular-level dispersion of drug in the polymer. The loading efficiency determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was around 68%. The in vitro release experiments revealed that the GCV released from the gelatin microspheres was related to the extent of swelling, which was proportional to the drug-to-polymer ratio. These results suggest that cross-linked gelatin microspheres could be a suitable drug-delivery system for GCV.