ABSTRACT
In this work, the potential of using microspherical aerogel particles based on commercial carrageenan as a drug vehiclewas evaluated. Carrageenan hydrogel microparticles were prepared following the emulsion gelation approach. Afterthe successive solvent exchange, supercritical CO2 drying procedure was employed to obtain aerogel microsphericalparticles. Meloxicam and atorvastatin (class II drug) were loaded into the aerogel matrix by adsorption from theircorresponding supercritical CO2 solution. All preparations were characterized by their physicochemical properties. Invitro drug released was investigated for the drug-aerogel formulation to assist the effect of aerogel technology on therelease profile of the targeted drug. Meloxicam and atorvastatin model drugs maintained their crystalline structure.Significant enhancement in the release profile of meloxicam after loading in the carrageenan aerogel can be related tode-aggregation of meloxicam inside the particle, while no enhancement in atorvastatin release was observed. Resultswere indicative of a failure in the loading of atorvastatin inside the carrageenan particle at the selected experimentalprocessing parameters.