The delivery of drugs to patients is one of the most crucial parts of the pharmaceutical industry. The specific method of drug delivery can have a major impact on the effectiveness and applicability of drugs in biomedicine.
Innovations in improving the efficacy and safety of drug delivery methods include the development of the microsphere.
Microspheres are highly effective in small molecule drug delivery systems (DDSs), offering unique advantages that enhance the efficiency of pharmaceutical delivery. This article aims to explore the pivotal role microspheres play in drug delivery.
Powder Systems will offer a concise overview of the benefits of employing microspheres as a DDS, highlighting how they optimize control over the release of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) to patients over extended periods.
Image Credit: Powder Systems
What makes microsphere formulation so attractive for drug delivery systems?
A successful drug delivery system must be able to deliver a drug at the right dose to the intended target within the patient’s body and at the appropriate time to ensure maximized therapeutic effects.
The microsphere is an attractive system for drug delivery because it is made out of biodegradable polymers that are known to pose no threat to the body and can hold a diverse array of drugs that can be delivered to the patient through a simple injection.
A microsphere can also ensure the controlled delivery of active pharmaceutical ingredients, making it an attractive procedure to biomedical scientists and healthcare professionals.
Historically, microspheres have been challenging and costly to manufacture. Companies like Powder Systems Limited, however, have designed novel technologies that modify the microsphere formulation as a drug delivery system.
How microspheres ensure controlled API delivery over time
A huge challenge within the pharmaceutical industry is figuring out how to effectively deliver the correct dose of drugs over a given time period. The microsphere, a controlled release DDS, offers a solution to this obstacle that conventional methods of drug delivery do not address.
Microspheres are able to provide controlled drug release over time as they are manufactured out of different types of degradable polymers that, when injected, react with the patient’s biological microenvironment to release a specific amount of drug.
As a polymer gradually breaks down over weeks or months, it steadily releases the drug into the body at controlled intervals. Hence, careful consideration of the polymer type, along with factors like molecular weight, composition, and the eventual size of the polymer product, is crucial during microsphere manufacturing.
Pharmaceutical companies aiming to enhance DDSs may find advantages in incorporating microspheres into their new drug delivery designs. However, it is imperative to thoroughly consider the aforementioned characteristics to ensure that production does not fall victim to some of the most common manufacturing pitfalls.
Microspheres with Powder Systems Limited
Powder Systems Limited has successfully developed the MicroSphere Refiner (MSR™) to allow microsphere manufacturers overcome the challenges that tend to arise throughout production, including issues with drying, filtration, reproducibility, and sterility.
With decades of experience, Powder Systems Limited can assist with improving microsphere formulation at all stages of many commercial and clinical applications with innovative MSR™ technology.
Image Credit: Powder Systems
About Powder Systems 
Powder Systems Limited (PSL) provides a full range of solid liquid separation solutions for filtration, drying, and processing from research and development activities up to larger commercial production scale.
Quality and innovation are central to everything they do. They are proud of their award-winning track record and have been working with industry partners for over 35 years.
PSL supports clients by developing solutions to overcome challenging manufacturing processes and provide first-class aftercare services.
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