Formulation and characterization of microspheres loaded with imatinib for sustained delivery

The aim of this study was the development of imatinib-loaded poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microspheres with high loading efficiency which can afford continuous release of imatinib over a prolonged period of time. Imatinib mesylate loaded PLGA microspheres with a size of 6-20 μm were prepared by a double emulsion (W₁/O/W₂) method using dichloromethane as volatile solvent. It was found that the microspheres were spherical with a non-porous surface; imatinib loading efficiency (LE) was highly dependent on the pH of the external water phase (W₂). By increasing the pH of W₂ phase above the highest pK_a of imatinib (pK_a 8.1), at which imatinib is mainly uncharged, the LE increased from 10% to 90% (pH 5.0 versus pH 9.0). Conversely, only 4% of its counter ion, mesylate, was retained in the microspheres at the same condition (pH 9.0). Since mesylate is highly water soluble, it is unlikely that it partitions into the organic phase. We demonstrated, using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), that imatinib was molecularly dispersed in the polymeric matrix at loadings up to 8.0%. At higher drug loading, imatinib partially crystallized in the matrix. Imatinib microspheres released their cargo during three months by a combination of diffusion through the polymer matrix and polymer erosion. In conclusion, we have formulated imatinib microspheres with high LE and LC. Although we started with a double emulsion of imatinib mesylate, the obtained microspheres contained imatinib base which was mainly molecularly dispersed in the polymer matrix. These microspheres release imatinib over a 3-month period which is of interest for local treatment of cancer.