RT Journal Article T1 Inhalable spray-dried chondroitin sulphate microparticles: effect of different solvents on particle properties and drug activity A1 Rodrigues, Susana Margarida A1 Costa, Ana M. Rosa da A1 Flórez Fernández, Noelia A1 Torres Pérez, María Dolores A1 Faleiro, Maria Leonor A1 Buttini, Francesca A1 Grenha, Ana Margarida Moutinho K1 3209 Farmacología K1 3303.03 Procesos Químicos K1 3303 Ingeniería y Tecnología Químicas AB Spray-drying stands as one of the most used techniques to produce inhalable microparticles, but several parameters from both the process and the used materials affect the properties of the resulting microparticles. In this work, we describe the production of drug-loaded chondroitin sulphate microparticles by spray-drying, testing the effect of using different solvents during the process. Full characterisation of the polymer and of the aerodynamic properties of the obtained microparticles are provided envisaging an application in inhalable tuberculosis therapy. The spray-dried microparticles successfully associated two first-line antitubercular drugs (isoniazid and rifabutin) with satisfactory production yield (up to 85%) and drug association efficiency (60%–95%). Ethanol and HCl were tested as co-solvents to aid the solubilisation of rifabutin and microparticles produced with the former generally revealed the best features, presenting a better ability to sustainably release rifabutin. Moreover, these presented aerodynamic properties compatible with deep lung deposition, with an aerodynamic diameter around 4 μm and fine particle fraction of approximately 44%. Finally, it was further demonstrated that the antitubercular activity of the drugs remained unchanged after encapsulation independently of the used solvent. PB Polymers SN 20734360 YR 2020 FD 2020-02-12 LK http://hdl.handle.net/11093/3564 UL http://hdl.handle.net/11093/3564 LA eng NO Polymers, 12(2): 425 (2020) NO Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia | Ref. PTDC/DTP-FTO/0094/2012 DS Investigo RD 23-ene-2025