Spray-dried hydroxyapatite-5-Fluorouracil granules as a chemotherapeutic delivery system

This study describes the preparation and characterization of hydroxyapatite-5-Fluorouracil (5FU) granules, which are intended to be used as chemotherapeutic delivery matrices and bone regeneration templates. Suspensions of hydroxyapatite (Hap) nanoparticles in 5FU solution are spray dried as micro sized granules having donut type shape. Several spray drying temperatures are studied 80 degrees C being the optimized condition for obtaining granules composed by Hap and 5FU without secondary phases. The produced granules at 80 degrees C reveal a fast releasing rate of 5FU when soaked in buffer phosphate solution maintained at physiological temperature (37 degrees C, thereby indicating the potential application of the produced Hap matrices for drug delivery systems (DDSs). (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.