Evaluation of oral carvedilol microparticles prepared by simple emulsion technique using poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) and polycaprolactone as polymers

Polymeric microparticles containing carvedilol (CRV) were obtained successfully using a simple emulsion/organic evaporating method. Three different formulations were developed using poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) and polycaprolactone (PCL) as polymers: the resulting samples were submitted to physical-chemical characterization and in vivo evaluation. The physical-chemical analysis indicated that the PHBV promoted a porous aspect in the microparticle's surface, while PCL a smooth aspect. The PCL-CRV microparticles showed a higher loading efficiency and a longer drug release time, being selected for in vivo evaluation. The in vivo assays indicated that PCL-CRV polymeric microparticles has a pharmacological antihypertensive effect for a longer period of time, representing a good alternative to improved the life quality of the patient that uses this drug. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.