title: Review and current status of emulsion/dispersion technology using an internal gelation process for the design of alginate particles.
abstract: Emulsification/internal gelation has been suggested as an alternative to extrusion/external gelation in the encapsulation of several compounds including sensitive biologicals such as protein drugs. Protein-loaded microparticles offer an inert environment within the matrix and encapsulation is conducted at room temperature in a media free of organic solvents. Recently, the concept of internal gelation has been applied to formulating nanoparticles as drug delivery systems. Emulsification/internal gelation technologies available for microparticles preparation, particularly that involving alginate polymer, are described as well as recent advances towards applications in nanotechnology. Those methods show great promise as a tool for the development of encapsulation processes, especially for the new field of nanotechnology using natural polymers.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Catarina P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.forename: Ronald J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Neufeld
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vilela
authors.forename: António J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Veiga
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry*; D004655:Emulsions; D005782:Gels; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D008863:Microspheres; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D004655:Emulsions; D005782:Gels; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D011108:Polymers; D020723:Glucuronic Acid