In vitro evaluation of sol-gel processed spray dried silica gel microspheres as carrier in controlled drug delivery.

The objective of this study was to evaluate sol-gel-derived spray dried silica gel microspheres as carrier material for dexmedetomidine HCl and toremifene citrate. The drug was dissolved in sol-gel processed silica sol before spray drying with Büchi laboratory scale equipment. Microspheres with a low specific surface area were spherical by shape with a smooth surface without pores on the external surface. The particle size distribution was quite narrow. The in vitro release of toremifene citrate and dexmedetomidine HCl showed a dose-dependent burst followed by a slower release phase, that was proportional to the drug concentration in the concentration range between 3.9 and 15.4 wt.%. The release period for toremifene citrate was approximately 10 days and for dexmedetomidine HCl between 7 and 50 days depending on drug concentration. Spray drying is a promising way to produce spherical silica gel particles with a narrow particle size range for controlled delivery of toremifene citrate and dexmedetomidine HCl.