TY - JOUR AU - Chime, Salome Amarachi AU - Onyishi, I V AU - Obitte, N C AU - Onunkwo, G C AU - Odo, G I PY - 2013/07/01 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - SUSTAINED RELEASE ARTEMETHER-LOADED SOLID LIPID MICROPARTICLES, BASED ON SOLIDIFIED REVERSE MICELLAR SOLUTION (SRMS) JF - Innovare Journal of Sciences JA - Innovare J Sci VL - 1 IS - 2 SE - Articles DO - UR - https://journals.innovareacademics.in/index.php/ijs/article/view/145 SP - 1-7 AB - <p><strong>Objectives:</strong> To prepare and evaluate sustained release artemether-loaded SLMs based on SRMS</p> <p><strong>Material and methods:</strong> SRMS, consisting of mixtures of Phospholipon<sup>®</sup> 90H (P90H) and Softisan<sup>®</sup> 154 (1:1, 2:1 and 1:2) were formulated and characterized using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The SRMS were used to formulate artemether-loaded SLMs by melt homogenization. The SLMs were characterized based on particle size and morphology, pH stability, encapsulation efficiency (EE%) and loading capacity. <em>In vitro</em> release was carried out in simulated intestinal fluid (SIF, pH 7.5).</p> <p><strong>Results:</strong> Thermograms of the SRMS (1:1, 2:1 and 1:2) showed sharp endothermic peaks at 65.5, 64.4 and 62.3 <sup>o</sup>C respectively. Maximum EE% of 70.00 ± 1.50 % was obtained for SLMs formulated with SRMS 1:1 and 1 % artemether. Loading capacity ranged from 5.67 to 17.90 g drug/100 g lipid. <em>In vitro</em> release showed about 80 to 84 % drug release at 7 h. Particle size of artemether-loaded SLMs ranged from 18.60 ± 0.09 to 34.80 ± 0.30 µm. The pH decreased significantly at 60 days from 6 to 4.8 for batch A2 formulated with SRMS 2:1 and 3 % artemether (p &lt; 0.05).</p> <p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> artemether-loaded SLMs based on SRMS had good sustained release properties and could be used once daily in order to enhance patient's compliance.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Key words: </strong>Malaria, artemether, SRMS, lipids, sustained release SLMs<strong></strong></p> <p> </p> ER -