Preparation of polymeric carriers for drug delivery with different shape and size using an electric jet

Abstract

A method for generating poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) and polycaprolactone biodegradable particles of different size and shape using a jet generated in an electric field is elucidated. These particles are suitable for use as drug carriers and the method can be developed into a mass production route. The effect of different parameters such as applied voltage, collecting distance, flow rate and polymer concentration on inducing size and shape differences in these particles was studied. It was found that the flow rate, polymer concentration and collecting distance have a significant impact on the size of the generated particles and by changing the collecting distance a systematic reduction in the particle size by at least an order of magnitude (10microm-100nm) can be achieved. By using a high polymer concentration (30 wt. %) the shape and surface morphology of these particles can also be controlled from spherical to fibrous, and smooth to irregular, respectively, which presently is an interesting strategy and concept in drug delivery. This method is very useful as a one-step generator of different sizes of drug carriers with morphological variations.