title: Production and characterization of anisotropic particles from biodegradable materials.
abstract: In recent years, production and characterization of anisotropic particles has become of interest in a wide range of scientific fields including polymer chemistry, drug delivery, electronics, energy, and nanotechnology. In this work, we demonstrate a novel formulation for production of anisotropic particles via an internal phase separation of biodegradable components. Specifically, binary mixtures of biodegradable polymers poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid), polycaprolactone, and biodegradable lipid Precirol (glyceryl palmitostearate) were dissolved in dichloromethane, emulsified, and prepared into anisotropic particles using a modified solvent evaporation technique. During the slow evaporation process the components self-assembled into anisotropic particles with distinct morphologies. Polymer/polymer formulations resulted in compartmentalized anisotropic heterodimer particles, while polymer/lipid combinations yielded "ice cream cone" shaped particles. It was found that addition of certain active pharmaceuticals resulted in an altered, pox-like segregation at the particle surface of polymer/polymer formulations. The anisotropic nature of the particles was subsequently characterized using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, zeta potential, electrophoresis, and X-ray diffraction. Successful formulations presented here may potentially be employed as multicompartmental drug carriers with staggered drug release rates or alternatively as a colloidal excipient for an arsenal of pharmaceutical applications.
authors.affiliation: Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Rutgers University, 98 Brett Road, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA.
authors.forename: Francis S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Romanski
authors.forename: Jennifer S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Winkler
authors.forename: Ryan C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Riccobene
authors.forename: M Silvina
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Tomassone
mesh_terms: D016880:Anisotropy; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D004075:Diglycerides / Q000737:chemistry; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004075:Diglycerides; D011091:Polyesters; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; C016240:polycaprolactone; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid; C009032:precirol