New Approach To Produce Monosized Polymer Microcapsules by the Solute Co-diffusion Method

• Published in: Langmuir Vol. 17; no. 18; pp. 5435 - 5439
• Main Authors: Kim, Jin-Woong, Cho, Sung-A, Kang, Hak-Hee, Han, Sang-Hoon, Chang, Ih-Seop, Lee, Ok-Sub, Suh, Kyung-Do
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: American Chemical Society 04.09.2001
• ISSN: 0743-7463; 1520-5827
• DOI: 10.1021/la001654o

This study introduces a new approach for producing highly monosized polymer microcapsules. The technique employs an impressive process in which the solute, dissolved freely in a solvent, is diffused uniformly into the preexisting monosized polymer particles in the form of a fine emulsion. The solvent is then eliminated, resulting consequently in solute-loaded polymer microcapsules. We named it a solute co-diffusion method, SCM. The loading efficiency of the solute was predicted successfully by a thermodynamic equation. In the experiment, the indomethacin-loaded poly(methyl methacrylate) microparticles were produced via SCM. From our results, SCM is expected to expand significantly the drug-loading technology in related fields.