Abstract

Biodegradable hydrogel microspheres ofChitosan (CS) and hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC)were prepared by
emulsion- crosslinking method employing glutaraldehyde (GA) as a crosslinker. Valganociclovir hydrochloride
(VHCl), an anti HIV drug was encapsulated into IPN microspheres. Microspheres were characterized by
Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to confirm the formation of crosslinking and absence of
chemical interactions between drug, polymer and crosslinking agent. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was
performed to study surface morphology of the microspheres and it showed that microspheres have smooth
surface. Microspheres with the average particle sizes ranging from 297μm to 412μm were produced. X-ray
diffraction (X-RD) studies were performed to understand the crystalline nature of drug after encapsulation into
IPN microspheres. An in vitro release study was performed in phosphate buffer solution pH-7.4 at 37oC. The
release rates were fitted to an emperical equation to understand the diffusion parameters, which indicate non-
Fickian or anomalous trend release of VHCL.