ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To prepare curcumin-loaded poly-(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres and study its release characteristics in vitro.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Curcumin-loaded poly-(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres were prepared by W/O/W emulsification solvent-evaporation process. The microspheres were characterized in terms of morphology, size, encapsulation efficiency, the rate of drug loading and in vitro drug release.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The formed microspheres were spherical with smooth surfaces. The distribution of particle size was uniform and average size was 1 151 nm. The rate of drug loading was (1.98 +/- 0.14)% and the encapsulation efficiency was (59.44 +/- 4.05)%. In vitro release study revealed that the 71-hour accumulative release percentage reached 77%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Curcumin loaded poly-(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres are prepared successfully and show good sustained-release characteristics.</p>