Table 2.
Size distribution of polymeric microparticles prepared by high-speed homogenization and ultrasonication, and yield of production.
| Formulation_Chitosan MW | High-Speed Homogenization | Ultrasonication | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Particle Size, d0.5 (µm) | Span | Production Yield (%) | Particle Size, d0.5 (µm) | Span | Production Yield (%) | |
| F0_Low | 34.5 ± 1.8 | 6.7 ± 0.5 | n.d. | 67.8 ± 10.6 | 5.6 ± 0.9 | n.d. |
| F0_Medium | 47.8 ± 2.2 | 4.1 ± 0.4 | n.d. | 11.5 ± 3.2 | 8.8 ± 1.3 | n.d. |
| F0_High | 91.8 ± 1.6 | 3.4 ± 0.1 | n.d. | 69.5 ± 9.9 | 6.5 ± 0.8 | n.d. |
| F12_Low | 30.2 ± 0.3 | 3.0 ± 0.0 | n.d. | - | - | n.d. |
| F13_Low | 20.4 ± 0.2 | 2.6 ± 0.0 | n.d. | 10.8 ± 0.6 | 6.7 ± 1.9 | 72.2 ± 0.0 |
| F13_Medium | 65.6 ± 1.7 | 3.5 ± 0.1 | n.d. | 11.8 ± 0.0 | 1.6 ± 0.0 | 97.3 ± 0.9 |
| F13_High | 52.9 ± 1.1 | 2.8 ± 0.0 | n.d. | 11.2 ± 0.4 | 4.7 ± 2.4 | 103.4 ± 2.6 |
| F14_Low | 25.2 ± 0.3 | 3.0 ± 0.0 | 53.8 ± 0.0 | 14.4 ± 0.3 | 1.2 ± 0.0 | 60.1 ± 10.7 |
F0, microparticles obtained by Method (I) with modifications, via alginate ionotropic pre-gelation with CaCl2 followed by chitosan addition; F12–F14, microparticles obtained by Method (II) with modifications, via chitosan pre-gelation with alginate followed by precipitation with 2 mg/mL TPP (pH 9.0), with ALG/CS mass ratios ranging from 0.6:1 to 1:1. The pH of alginate and chitosan solutions was initially set to 4.9 and 4.6, respectively. MW, Molecular weight; n.d., not determined.