Towards designer microparticles: simultaneous control of anisotropy, shape, and size.
Biodegradable, compositionally anisotropic microparticles with two distinct compartments that exhibit controlled shapes and sizes are fabricated. These multifunctional particles are prepared by electrohydrodynamic co-jetting of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) polymer solutions. By varying different solution and process parameters, namely, concentration and flow rate, a variety of non-equilibrium bicompartmental shapes, such as discoid and rod-shaped microparticles are produced in high yields. Optimization of jetting parameters, combined with filtration, results in near-perfect, bicompartmental spherical particles in the size range of 3-5 microm. Simultaneous control over anisotropy, size, shape, and surface structure provides an opportunity to create truly multifunctional microparticles for a variety of biological applications, such as drug delivery, diagnostic assays, and theranostics.
Bhaskar
Srijanani
S
Macromolecular Science and Engineering Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
Pollock
Kelly Marie
KM
Yoshida
Mutsumi
M
Lahann
Joerg
J
D016880:Anisotropy; D004563:Electrochemistry; D005374:Filtration; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010316:Particle Size; D012996:Solutions
D012996:Solutions