Microencapsulation of Drugs in the Microgravity Environment of the United States Space Shuttle.
Abstract
Southern Research Institute tested the feasibility of making biodegradable, time-release, pharmaceutical microspheres in space. We designed, built, safety tested, and flew hardware we call the Microencapsulation in Space (MIS) experiment. The MIS experiment flew on Space Shuttle Discovery -- Mission STS-53. Four days before launch, NASA technicians remove two storage lockers and in their place mounted the MIS hardware. Launch date was December 2, 1992. Mission specialists started the MIS experiment on Day 6 of the mission (December 8, 1992). They reported normal MIS operation. Landing occurred on December 9, 1992, at Edwards A. F. B., California. We retrieved the MIS hardware on December 10, 1992, at Dryden Flight Research Facility. The space-made, ampicillin-loaded microspheres were more spherical, had smoother surfaces, and had better internal organization than earth-made microspheres of the same composition. From our experience, these improved properties should improve the release properties of microencapsulated drugs and eliminate unwanted residual process aids. Furthermore, it is likely that microencapsulation in space will let us encapsulate drugs that cannot be microencapsulated on the earth
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 22, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADB174068
Entities
People
- Richard J. Holl
- Thomas R. Tice
Organizations
- Southern Research