Thermal decomposition profile of chitosan microparticles produced with Schinopsis brasiliensis Engler extract

Schinopsis brasiliensis Engler is a plant of Anacardiaceae family, used in the treatment of various diseases. Dried extracts have been used as intermediate product to obtain different pharmaceutical forms. Microparticles are a controlled-release system that protects unstable materials, and assist in increasing bioavailability parameters, while still allowing release to the specific site. This study aimed to trace the profile of microparticles of thermal degradation produced with S. brasiliensis Engl. extract in a chitosan matrix, evaluating some microparticles parameters (encapsulation efficiency, zeta potential, polydispersity index and SPAN factor). Thermal behavior of microparticles showed chitosan is able to protect the S. brasiliensis extract. Encapsulation efficiency and zeta potential are not directly proportional to flow rate, differently to polydispersity index and SPAN factor. This study showed the chitosan potential to protect S. brasiliensis extract of thermal degradation, allowing future applications.