title: Towards designer microparticles: simultaneous control of anisotropy, shape, and size.
abstract: 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.
authors: Macromolecular Science and Engineering Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
authors: Srijanani
authors: S
authors: Bhaskar
authors: Kelly Marie
authors: KM
authors: Pollock
authors: Mutsumi
authors: M
authors: Yoshida
authors: Joerg
authors: J
authors: Lahann
mesh_terms: D016880:Anisotropy; D004563:Electrochemistry; D005374:Filtration; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010316:Particle Size; D012996:Solutions
chemical_list: D012996:Solutions