Preparation and Characterization of Triamcinolone Acetonide- loaded Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate- co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBHx) Microspheres CEM BAYRAM AND EMIR BAKI DENKBAS° * Hacettepe University, Chemistry Department, Biochemistry Division Beytepe, Ankara, Turkey EBRU KILIC ¸AY AND BAKI HAZER Karaelmas University, Chemistry Department, Physical Chemistry Division, Zonguldak, Turkey HASAN BASRI C ¸ AKMAK Ministry of Health, Atatu ¨rk Training Hospital, Ophthalmology Clinics, Ankara, Turkey ISAO NODA The Procter and Gamble Company,West Chester, Ohio, USA ABSTRACT: Triamcinolone acetonide loaded in poly(3-hydroxybutyrate- co-3 hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBHx) microspheres were prepared to treat cystoid macular oedema (CMO) and acute posterior segment inflammation associated with uveitis. The PHBHx microspheres were prepared by solvent evaporation technique using methylene chloride as the solvent and aqueous poly(vinyl alcohol) emulsifier as the dispersion medium. The PHBHx micro- spheres obtained were well formed with narrow size distribution; the average size prepared ranged from 40–200 mm depending on the formulation used. *Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: denkbas@hacettepe.edu.tr Figures 1 and 3–6 appear in color online: http://jbc.sagepub.com Journal of BIOACTIVE AND COMPATIBLE POLYMERS, Vol. 00—Month 2008 1 0883-9115/08/00 1–14 $10.00/0 DOI: 10.1177/0883911508092790 ß SAGE Publications 2008 Los Angeles, London, New Delhi and Singapore + [Ver: 7.51g/W] [29.4.2008–6:03pm] [1–14] [Page No. 1] FIRST PROOFS {SAGE_FPP}Jbc/JBC 092790.3d (JBC) Paper: JBC 092790 Keyword