title: Segregation of lipid and polymer in emulsion droplets captured by confocal laser scanning microscopy.
abstract: The phase behaviors of the subsystems of the ethyl acetate (EtAc)/monoolein/polyethylene glycol-poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLG)/water system have been determined. EtAc simultaneously solves MO and PLG in a liquid phase, denoted L. Lipid/polymer composite particles have here been formed by emulsification of such an L phase into aqueous solutions. Characterization, by means of confocal laser scanning microscopy, revealed that distinctive lipid domains appear inside the particles. In aqueous solutions, these lipid domains swell and finally leave the concentrated polymer matrix. The system exhibits a suitable phase behavior in order to form lipid/polymer composite particles. These composite particles may be interesting for drug delivery applications.
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Physical Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, Uppsala University, P.O. Box 580, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden. anna.imberg@telia.com
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Imberg
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hansson
mesh_terms: D002627:Chemistry, Physical / Q000379:methods; D004337:Drug Carriers; D004655:Emulsions; D007700:Kinetics; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods*; D008863:Microspheres; D010316:Particle Size; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D004655:Emulsions; D008055:Lipids; D011108:Polymers; D014867:Water; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols