Recrystallization of 5-Fluorouracil Using Gas Antisolvent Process

In this study the micronization of an anticancer compound (5-Fluorouracil) was investigated using the gas antisolvent (GAS) process. 5-Fluorouracil was dissolved in Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)and subsequently carbon dioxide as an antisolvent was injected into this solution, thereby creating solution supersaturation and particle precipitation. The effect of temperature (34, 40 and 46 C ), and pressure (9, 12 and 15 MPa) were investigated on particle size and particle size distribution.The average particle size of 5-Fluorouracil was successfully controlled between 270 and 460 nm by changing the GAS effective parameters. Analysis by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Zetasizer Nano ZS indicated that increasing the pressure, meanwhile decreasing the temperature, led to a decrease in 5- Fluorouracil particle size

Keywords:

5-Fluorouracil , GAS , nanoparticles , particle size , supercritical fluid