Aim/background: Microspheres are spherical particles, having a core, having a particle size
of 1μm to 1000μm. They are advantageous as compared to conventional dosage forms
of drugs, in parameters like sustainability and control of drug release, drug protection,
biodegradability, targeting ability and many more. Gemcitabine is a prodrug and is used
in various carcinomas. Sodium Alginate and Ethyl Cellulose are used as polymers. The
fabrication aims to sustain the drug release which can treat pancreatic, breast, ovarian
and lung cancer. Materials and Methods: Microspheres have been made by Ionotropic
Gelation method, Sodium alginate, Ethyl cellulose and Calcium chloride. Weighed quantity
of drug and polymer were added to sodium alginate solution, which was then added drop
wise to Calcium chloride solution under continuous stirring to procure spherical rigid
microspheres. These were then subjected to various physicochemical characterizations
and surface analysis. Results and Conclusion: Results have shown that by increasing
the polymer concentration, entrapment efficiency and drug loading have also increased.
Particle size, SEM and micromeritic evaluation have exhibited satisfactory results. The
drug release studies depict that most of the batches have showed less than 10% release
acid media so it protects the drug from the upper part of GI Tract. These attributes prove
that microsphere technology, being a crucial novel drug delivery system can be very
effective in reducing dose frequency, dose dumping and better patient compliance.