Controlled release of bovine serum albumin from hydroxyapatite microspheres for protein delivery system

Desorption behavior of a model protein (bovine serum albumin, BSA) on commercial hydroxyapatite (HAp) microspheres and its control were investigated for protein delivery system. The desorption behavior related strongly to the phosphate concentration in phosphate buffer solution: the amount of desorbed BSA increased when the phosphate concentration increased. In physiological buffer solution, which contains 10 mM phosphate, the initial burst release of BSA was observed: 70% of BSA was rapidly desorbed after 0.5 h, and 80% after 24 h. In contrast, the extremely low release profile of BSA was observed in distilled water. For the controlled release of BSA in physiological condition, the BSA-loaded HAp microspheres were encapsulated with a biodegradable polymer, poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) by a solid-in oil-in water (S/O/W) emulsion solvent evaporation method. The initial burst was significantly reduced, and the BSA release was remarkably prolonged by the encapsulation.