| Finasteride has been orally used as 5α-reductase inhibitor for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia. Transfollicular delivery of finasteride would be more advantageous over oral tablets because of their reduced systemic side effects. The objective of this study was to develop finasteride microparticles for transfollicular delivery. Finasteride microparticles were prepared by solvent evaporation technique by varying amount of finasteride loading (50, 100 to 150 mg), polylactide-co-glycolide (PLGA) polymer content (50, 100, 150 mg), stirring speed (6000, 10000, 14000 rpm), stirring time (12, 16, 20 hours), concentration of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) (0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1 %w/v), stabilizer type (PVA, Pluronic®F-68, Pluronic®F-127) and ethyl acetate was used as solvent. Factors affecting the size of finasteride microparticles were investigated. Results showed that microparticles obtained from PLGA 50, 100, 150 (mg/ ethyl acetate 10 ml) exhibited mean particle sizes in the range of 2.88±8.98 µm, 3.73±9.25 µm and 4.27±17.65 µm, respectively. Increase stirring speed from 6000 to 10000 and 14000 rpm showed microparticle sizes of 5.788±1.941 µm, 2.498±0.525 µm and 1.882±0.630 µm, respectively. Increase stirring time from 12, 16, 20 hours gave particle size of 1.921±0.528 µm, 1.697±0.476
µm and 1.640±0.478 µm, respectively. Microparticles obtained were in the same particle size range independent of the stabilizer type used while the investigated finasteride loading amount showed no difference in diameter of microparticles. In conclusion, factors affecting the development of finasteride microparticles size were investigated and the developed microparticles for transfollicular delivery could potentially reduce systemic side effects of the drug. |