Study of lysozyme-polymer composite microparticles in supercritical CO2

Lysozyme-loaded polymeric composite microparticles were successfully coprecipitated by solution-enhanced dispersion by supercritical CO2 (SEDS), starting with a homogeneous organic solvent solution of lysozyme/poly(L-lactide)/poly(ethylene glycol) (lysozyme/PLLA/PEG). The effects of different drug loads (5, 8, and 12% w/w), PLLA Mw (10, 50, 100, and 200 kDa), PEG contents (0, 10, 30, and 50% PEG/(PLLA+PEG) w/w), and PEG Mw (400, 1000, and 4000 kDa) on the surface morphology, particle size, and drug release profile of the resulting composite microparticles were investigated. The results indicate that the size of the microparticles decreased and the rate of drug release increased with an increase in drug load, PEG content, or PEG Mw; the particle size first increased and then decreased with an increase in PLLA Mw, and the drug release was controlled by both particle size and PLLA Mw. The Fourier transform infrared spectrometer analysis and circular dichroism spectra measurement reveal that no significant changes occurred in the molecular structures during the SEDS processing, which is favorable to the production of proteinpolymer composite microparticles for a protein drug delivery system. (C) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012