Poly--Caprolactone Microsphere Polymers Containing Usnic Acid: Acute Toxicity and Anti-Inflammatory Activity.

Usnic acid (UA) has been studied by its pharmacological properties; however, it presents moderate toxicity, low solubility, and absorption by biological membranes. The aim of this study was to develop poly--caprolactone microsphere polymers containing UA (UA-micro) and evaluate their acute toxicity and anti-inflammatory activity. The microspheres were prepared by multiple emulsion technique (water/oil/water) and characterized by the encapsulation efficiency, particle size, polydispersity index, and zeta potential.

Molecular modeling and cytotoxicity of diffractaic acid: HP-β-CD inclusion complex encapsulated in microspheres.

In this pioneer study, 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) was used to improve the solubility of the diffractaic acid (DA) via inclusion complex (DA:HP-β-CD). Subsequently, DA:HP-β-CD was incorporated into poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) microspheres (DA:HP-β-CD-MS). Microspheres containing DA (DA-MS) or DA:HP-β-CD (DA:HP-β-CD-MS) were prepared using the multiple W/O/W emulsion-solvent evaporation technique.