PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF CHITOSAN
MICROSPHERES FOR VANCOMYCIN DELIVERY
OLIMPIA DUMITRIU BUZIA1#, CRISTIAN DIMA2#, ȘTEFAN DIMA3*#
1”Dunărea de Jos” University of Galati, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Al. I. Cuza Str. 3, Galați, Romania
2”Dunărea de Jos” University of Galati, Faculty of Food Science and Engineering, Domneasca Str. 111, Galați, Romania
3”Dunărea de Jos” University of Galati, Faculty of Sciences and Environment, Domneasca Str. 111, Galați, Romania
*corresponding author: dimastefan@yahoo.com
#All authors had equal contribution to designing and writing the presented paper.
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Abstract:
This study aimed the preparation and characterization of vancomycin chitosan microspheres by internal gelation method
using sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP) and KOH as cross-linked agents. The chitosan-KOH microspheres were smooth,
spherical with a regular shape, while the chitosan-TPP microspheres had a brain-like structure. The entrapment efficiency
was in the range of 66.8 ± 3.7% to 78.18 ± 2.8% for chitosan-TPP microspheres while for chitosan-KOH microspheres, the
entrapment efficiency was in the range of 48.8 ± 3.1% to 52.6 ± 2.3%. It was also studied the kinetics profile of vancomycin
releasing from chitosan microspheres in simulated gastro-intestinal fluids. The release rate demonstrated that the chitosan-
TPP microspheres can be used for the oral delivery of vancomycin. The antibacterial activity of vancomycin microspheres,
against Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus faecalis was investigated.

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