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Controlled release herbicide formulations were prepared by microencapsulation using solvent evaporation technique. 2,4-D was chosen as core material, which was microencapsulated in two cellulose derivatives as matrices: cellulose acetate butyrate butyryl (CAB) and ethylcellulose (EC). The work is intended to produce systems containing the herbicide to reduce its risks by dermal contact, evaporation, or degradation and to control the release of the active agent. The microspheres loaded by 2,4-D were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and infrared spectroscopy. We have obtained microparticles in the range of D 32 of 42-277 mm with CAB and 88-744 mm with EC by varying the process parameters. The drug entrapment was improved by controlling certain factors such as polymer/solvent ratio, pH of continuous phase, and organic phase solvent. The drug release was established in deionized water at pH ¼ 5.5 and 258C and the 2,4-D concentrations were estimated by UV analysis. The release data were analyzed according to Fick's law and the results demonstrate that the release rate can be controlled by modifying the process parameters.

New formulations capable to enhance piroxicam (PRX) water solubility and at the same time to control and adjust its release have been developed. For this purpose, two methods have been used and combined to achieve this goal, namely complexation and microencapsulation by O/W emulsion solvent evaporation. In order to modify the drug release, first, microparticles composed of pure PRX and ethylcellulose (EC) or mixtures of EC and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) were prepared, and then, other micropaticles containing the,β-cyclodextrin/piroxicam (,β-CD/PRX) complex obtained by the solvent evaporation technique and EC or a mixture of EC and HPMC were produced and tested. These formulations were characterized by FT-IR, XRD, optical microscopy, and SEM methods. Drug dissolution tests were carried out in acidic media at pH = 1.2 and 37 °C. Depending on the microparticles composition, their size (dio) ranged between 49 pm and 121 pm and PRXioaded varied from 10.8 % to 27.7 %. The effect of complexation and HPMC polymer on the drug release was investigated; the results demonstrated that the Higuchi’s release constant significantly increased when using the EC/HPMC mixture as a matrix with pure PRX or only EC as a matrix with the ,β-CD/PRX complex. The results are remarkably promising since the combination of these processes provided new SD-CR formulations of piroxicam which enabled simultaneous enhancement and control of its release from the carriers.

In this study, we designed polymeric capsules that can be disrupted by shock waves. This type of microcapsule is theoretically a suitable vehicle for carrying hydrophobic drugs. Following these positive results, encapsulation of drugs is considered for further medical applications.