OBJECTIVETo investigate the property of genipin-crosslinked silk fibroin(SF)/chitosan(CS) microspheres for slow releasing of bovine serum albumin (BSA).

METHODSBSA-loaded genipin-crosslinked SF/CS microspheres were prepared by emulsion cross-linking technique. The micropheres were observed for surface morphology and size distribution under scanning electron microscope (SEM), and X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to analyze their structural characteristics. BCA method was used for determining the drug entrapment, loading rate and cumulative drug release in 21 days.

RESULTThe microspheres were spherical and showed a smooth surface with an average diameter of 7.84∓0.97 µm. The drug entrapment efficiency of the microspheres was (50.16∓4.32)% with a drug loading ratio of (1.25∓0.11)% and a cumulative release of the total drug of (75.2∓2.53)% in 21 days.

CONCLUSIONGenipin-crosslinked SF/CS microspheres have a high drug entrapment efficiency and possess good capacity of sustained drug release.

Chitosan ; chemistry ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; Emulsions ; Fibroins ; chemistry ; Iridoids ; chemistry ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Microspheres ; Particle Size ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared ; X-Ray Diffraction ; X-Rays