Method of micro-encapsulation
View Patent ↗A method of preparing micro-capsules. The active ingredient, preferably provided in the form of an acid salt dissolved in a basic aqueous solution, is emulsified into a polymer solution, preferably PLGA in a relatively volatile solvent such as dichloromethane, to create a water in oil emulsion. This emulsion is further emulsified into an aqueous solution having a pH of a between about 7.4 and 8.0 and most preferably between about 7.8 and 8.0 to create a water in oil in water solution. The polymer solvent is allowed to evaporate, causing the emulsified active ingredient and surrounding polymer matrix to precipitate, thereby forming the micro-capsules. The micro-capsules are separated from the suspension, washed and freeze dried. The method has a very high encapsulation efficiency, even at high loading rates. Additionally, the dissolution rate of the micro-particles produced by the method is very steady over a long period of time.
1. A method of preparing micro-capsules comprising:
a. emulsifying a first aqueous solution comprising buprenorphrine into a polymer solution comprising a polymer and a polymer solvent to create a water in oil emulsion, wherein said polymer comprises poly(lactide-co-glycolide acid);
b. providing a second aqueous solution wherein the pH of said second aqueous solution is adjusted to between about 7.4 and about 8.0 with phosphate, Tris, or borate buffer;
c. emulsifying said water in oil emulsion in said second aqueous solution to create a water in oil in water emulsion wherein the pH of the water in oil in water emulsion is maintained between about 7.4 and about 8.0 throughout the emulsifying process;
d. precipitating micro-capsules by evaporating said polymer solvent from said water in oil in water emulsion;
wherein the micro-capsules have an encapsulation efficiency of at least about seventy percent, and a steady release rate over at least one month.
2. A method of preparing micro-capsules according to claim 1 wherein said polymer solvent comprises dichloromethane.
3. A method of preparing micro-capsules according to claim 1 wherein the pH of the emulsion of step b) is maintained at between about 7.8 and about 8.0 throughout the emulsifying process.
4. A method of preparing micro-capsules according to claim 1 wherein said polymer solution further comprises a surfactant.
5. A method of preparing micro-capsules according to claim 4 wherein said surfactant comprises about 0.005 percent by weight of said polymer solution.
6. A method of preparing micro-capsules according to claim 5 wherein said surfactant comprises L-α-phosphatidyl choline.
7. A method of preparing micro-capsules according to claim 1 wherein said second aqueous solution further comprises a surfactant.
8. A method of preparing micro-capsules according to claim 7 wherein said surfactant comprises about 0.3 percent by weight of said second aqueous solution.
9. A method of preparing micro-capsules according to claim 8 wherein said surfactant comprises polyvinyl alcohol.
10. A method of preparing micro-capsules according to claim 1 wherein said buprenorphine is provided in the form of an acid salt.
11. A method of preparing micro-capsules according to claim 10 wherein said acid is hydrochloric acid.
12. A method of preparing micro-capsules according to claim 1 wherein the ratio of buprenorphine to polymer is between about 1:20 and about 1:2.
13. A method of preparing micro-capsules according to claim 12 wherein the pH of the emulsion of step b) is maintained at between about 7.8 and about 8.0 throughout the emulsifying process.
14. A method of preparing micro-capsules according to claim 12 having an encapsulation efficiency of at least about eighty percent.
15. A method of preparing micro-capsules according to claim 14 wherein the pH of the emulsion of step b) is maintained at between about 7.8 and about 8.0 throughout the emulsifying process.
16. A method of preparing micro-capsules comprising
a. emulsifying a first aqueous solution comprising an acid salt of a water soluble active ingredient into a polymer solution comprising a polymer and a polymer solvent to create a water in oil emulsion, wherein said polymer comprises poly(lactide-co-glycolide acid);
b. providing a second aqueous solution wherein the pH of said second aqueous solution is adjusted to between about 7.4 and about 8.0 with phosphate, Tris or borate buffer;
c. emulsifying said water in oil emulsion in said second aqueous solution to create a water in oil in water emulsion wherein the pH of the water in oil in water emulsion is maintained between about 7.4 and about 8.0 throughout the emulsifying process;
d. precipitating micro-capsules by evaporating said polymer solvent from said water in oil in water emulsion;
wherein the micro-capsules have an encapsulation efficiency of at least about seventy percent, and a steady release rate over at least one month.
17. A method of preparing micro-capsules according to claim 16 wherein said polymer solvent comprises dichloromethane.
18. A method of preparing micro-capsules according to claim 16 wherein the emulsion of step b) is maintained at between about 7.8 and about 8.0 during the emulsifying process.
19. A method of preparing micro-capsules according to claim 16 wherein said second aqueous solution further comprises a surfactant.
20. A method of preparing micro-capsules according to claim 19 wherein said surfactant comprises about 0.3 percent by weight of said second aqueous solution.
21. A method of preparing micro-capsules according to claim 20 wherein said surfactant comprises polyvinyl alcohol.
22. A method of preparing micro-capsules according to claim 16 wherein said acid is hydrochloric acid.
23. A method of preparing micro-capsules according to claim 16 wherein the ratio of active ingredient to polymer is between about 1:20 and about 1:2.
24. A method of preparing micro-capsules according to claim 23 wherein the emulsion of step b) is maintained at between about 7.8 and about 8.0 during the emulsifying process.
25. A method of preparing micro-capsules according to claim 23 having an encapsulation efficiency of at least about eighty percent.
26. A method of preparing micro-capsules according to claim 25 wherein the emulsion of step b) is maintained at between about 7.8 and about 8.0 during the emulsifying process.
27. A method for treating a patient, comprising:
a. emulsifying a first aqueous solution comprising at least one of a water soluble active ingredient and an acid salt of a water soluble active ingredient into a polymer solution comprising a polymer and a polymer solvent to create a water in oil emulsion, wherein said polymer comprises poly (lactide-co-glycolide acid);
b. providing a second aqueous solution wherein the pH of said second aqueous solution is adjusted to between about 7.4 and about 8.0 with phosphate, Tris or borate buffer;
c. emulsifying said water in oil emulsion in said second aqueous solution to create a water in oil in water emulsion wherein the pH of the water in oil in water emulsion is maintained between about 7.4 and about 8.0 throughout the emulsifying process;
d. precipitating micro-capsules by evaporating said polymer solvent from said water in oil in water emulsion;
e. washing the micro-capsules with deionized water;
f. dispersing at least one micro-capsule in a saline solution; and
g. injecting the saline solution containing the at least one micro-capsule into the patient,
wherein the micro-capsules have an encapsulation efficiency of at least about seventy percent, and a steady release rate over at least one month.
28. The method of claim 27 , wherein the water soluble active ingredient is an analgesic.
29. The method of claim 28 , wherein the analgesic is buprenorphine.
30. The method of claim 27 , wherein the patient suffers from at least one of opiate addiction and chronic pain.
31. The method of claim 27 , wherein the burst release of the water soluble active ingredient or acid salt of a water soluble active ingredient from the at least one micro-capsule after injection into the patient is less than five percent of the water soluble active ingredient or acid salt of a water soluble active ingredient contained within said microcapsule.
32. A method of preparing micro-capsules according to claim 27 wherein said polymer solvent comprises dichloromethane.
33. A method of preparing micro-capsules according to claim 27 wherein the emulsion of step b) is maintained at between about 7.8 and about 8.0 during the emulsifying process.
34. A method of preparing micro-capsules according to claim 33 wherein said surfactant comprises about 0.3 percent by weight of said second aqueous solution.
35. A method of preparing micro-capsules according to claim 27 wherein said second aqueous solution further comprises a surfactant.
36. A method of preparing micro-capsules according to claim 35 wherein said surfactant comprises polyvinyl alcohol.
37. A method of preparing micro-capsules according to claim 27 wherein said acid is hydrochloric acid.
38. A method of preparing micro-capsules according to claim 37 having a encapsulation efficiency of at least about eighty percent.
39. A method of preparing micro-capsules according to claim 27 wherein the ratio of the one of a water soluble active ingredient and an acid salt of a water soluble active ingredient to polymer is between about 1:20 and about 1:2.
40. A method of preparing micro-capsules according to claim 39 wherein the emulsion of step b) is maintained at between about 7.8 and about 8.0 during the emulsifying process.
41. A method of preparing micro-capsules according to claim 40 wherein the emulsion of step b) is maintained at between about 7.8 and about 8.0 during the emulsifying process.
42. A method of preparing micro-capsules comprising:
a. emulsifying a first aqueous solution comprising buprenophrine into a polymer solution comprising a polymer and a polymer solvent to create a water in oil emulsion, wherein said polymer comprises poly(lactide-co-glycolide acid);
b. providing a second aqueous solution wherein the pH of said second aqueous solution is adjusted to between about 7.4 and about 8.0 with phosphate, Tris, or borate buffer;
c. emulsifying said water in oil emulsion in said second aqueous solution to create a water in oil in water emulsion wherein the pH of the water in oil in water emulsion is maintained between about 7.4 and about 8.0 throughout the emulsifying process;
d. precipitating micro-capsules by evaporating said polymer solvent from said water in oil in water emulsion; and
e. separating said microcapsules,
wherein the micro-capsules have an encapsulation efficiency of at least about seventy percent, and a steady release rate.
43. The method of claim 42 , wherein the micro-capsules have a steady release rate over at least one month.
44. The method of claim 42 , wherein the micro-capsules have a steady release rate over up to about five months.
45. The method of claim 42 , wherein the step of separating said microcapsules comprises:
a. centrifuging the water in oil in water emulsion containing the precipitated micro-capsules in at least one centrifuge tube such that the micro-capsules accumulate at the bottom of the at least one centrifuge tube;
b. pouring any remaining liquid off of the accumulated micro-capsules;
c. washing the micro-capsules with deionized water; and
d. freeze-drying the micro-capsules.