PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ALBENDAZOLE MICROPARTICLES PREPARED BY FREEZE-DRYING TECHNIQUE

The aim of this work is preparation of albendazole (ABZ)
microparticles with certain hydrophilic polymers such as
hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), and polyvinyl pyrrolidone
(PVP) using freeze-drying technique. Microparticles of ABZ with
these polymers were prepared in different ratios of 1:1, 1:2, and
1:4. Morphology of the prepared ABZ microparticles was studied
using a scanning electron microscope. Spherical microparticles
with smooth surface of ABZ were detected by this method.
Physicochemical properties of drug alone and its freeze-dried
microparticles were investigated using differential scanning
calorimetry (DSC) and powder X-ray diffractometry (PXRD). DSC
and PXRD analysis showed that ABZ was transformed from the
crystalline state to amorphous state by freeze-drying with the
chosen polymers as confirmed by disappearance of its melting peak
and characteristic crystalline peaks. Dissolution rate of ABZ from the prepared microparticles was determined and compared to its
corresponding physical mixtures. Results showed that, the
dissolution of freeze-dried microparticles was faster than the
corresponding physical mixtures and drug alone. This indicates
that, the freeze-drying technique improved ABZ dissolution.
Moreover, it was found that the dissolution rate of the drug was
affected by the polymer type and the ratio of ABZ to polymer.