Preparation and characterization of sorafenib-loading microcapsules by complex coacervation of gum Arabic with chitosan or modified chitosan

Sorafenib is an oral multi-target kinase inhibitor that has been used to treat unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma and advanced renal cell carcinoma. The aim of the study was to prepare gum Arabic-chitosan (GA-CS) and gum Arabic-modified chitosan (GA-MCS) microcapsules containing sorafenib as the core phase by complex coacervation. The fluorescence microscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), drug loading, and encapsulation efficiency of the microcapsules were clarified. The GA-MCS microcapsule was successfully performed at approximate pH of 4 with a 1% modified chitosan -to- 5% gum Arabic ratio of 5:1 (v/v), while the GA-CS microcapsule was successfully prepared at pH 3.5 with a volume ratio of 1% chitosan -to- 5% gum Arabic 1:1 (v/v). Sorafenib was encapsulated in the microcapsules as shown through the fluorescence microscopy images. The formation of GA-CS and GA-MCS microcapsules with hydrodynamic sizes of 6.31 μm and 6.56 μm, respectively, was successfully achieved. The drug loading and encapsulation efficiency of the GA-MCS microcapsule was greater than that of the GA-CS microcapsule. The findings indicated that the GA-MCS microcapsule could be an appropriate formation to load sorafenib with a high encapsulation yield.