Carrier erythrocytes are emerging as one of the most promising biological drug delivery systems investigated in recent
decades. Beside its biocompatibility, biodegradability and ability to circulate throughout the body, it has the ability to
perform extended release system of the drug for a long period. The ultimate goal of this study is to introduce a new carrier
system for Salbutamol, maintaining suitable blood levels for a long time, as atrial to resolve the problems of nocturnal
asthma medication Therefore in this work we study the effect of time, temperature as well as concentration on the loading
of salbutamol in human erythrocytes to be used as systemic sustained release delivery system for this drug. After the
loading process is performed the carrier erythrocytes were physically and cellulary characterized. Also, the in vitro release
of salbutamol from carrier erythrocytes was studied over time interval. From the results it was found that, human
erythrocytes have been successfully loaded with salbutamol using endocytosis method either at 25 Co or at 37 Co
. The
highest loaded amount was 3.5 mg/ml and 6.5 mg/ml respectively. Moreover, the percent of cells recovery is 90.7± 1.64%.
Hematological parameters and osmotic fragility behavior of salbutamol loaded erythrocytes were similar that of native
erythrocytes. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that the salbutamol loaded cells has moderate change in the
morphology. Salbutamol releasing from carrier cell was 43% after 36 hours in phosphate buffer saline. The releasing
pattern of the drug from loaded erythrocytes showed initial burst release in the first hour followed by a very slow release,
obeying zero order kinetics. It concluded that salbutamol is successfully entrapped into erythrocytes with acceptable
loading parameters and moderate morphological changes, this suggesting that erythrocytes can be used as prolonged release
carrier for salbutamol.
