This work aimed to prepare chitosan/clay microspheres, by the precipitation method, for use in drug carrier systems. The influence of the process parameters, particularly two airflows of the drag system (2.5 and 10 L·min-1) on the microspheres physical dimensions and properties, such as microstructure, degree of swelling and porosity were evaluated. The samples were characterized by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Water absorption and porosity tests were also performed. The results showed that the process parameters affected the size of the microspheres. The diameter, volume and surface area of the chitosan/clay microspheres decreased when they were prepared with the higher airflow of the drag system. The microspheres presented a porous microstructure, being the pore size, percentage of porosity and degree of swelling affected not only by the process parameters but also by the type of clay. Hybrids (chitosan/clay) with intercalated morphology were obtained and the hybrid prepared with montmorillonite clay at higher airflows of the drag system presented the greatest interlayer spacing and a more disordered morphology. Thus, it is certain that the chitosan/clay nanocomposite microspheres prepared with montmorillonite (CL clay) at higher airflows of the drag system can have good drug-controlled release properties.
Keywords: chitosan; clay; microspheres; physical properties.