INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS, vol.140, no.2, pp.145-154, 1996 (SCI-Expanded)
The microspheres containing nicardipine hydrochloride (NCH) were prepared by the solvent evaporation method using acrylic polymers, Eudragit RS and L. The results of the release experiments with microspheres proposed that there should exist an interaction between NCH and the acrylic polymers. The mechanism of this interaction was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and powder X-ray diffractometry (XRD). These analysis indicated that NCH and polymers interact at the molecular level, possibly NCH forming a solid solution with polymers. Furthermore, the formulations ended with a solid solution between NCH and acrylic polymers and their blends made possible the preparation of controlled release microspheres to retard and to enhance drug release rate at pH 1.2 and 7.5, respectively.