Abdurashitov, A.S.; Proshin, P.I.; Sukhorukov, G.B. Template-Free Manufacturing of Defined Structure and Size Polymeric Microparticles. Nanomaterials2023, 13, 2976.
Abdurashitov, A.S.; Proshin, P.I.; Sukhorukov, G.B. Template-Free Manufacturing of Defined Structure and Size Polymeric Microparticles. Nanomaterials 2023, 13, 2976.
Abdurashitov, A.S.; Proshin, P.I.; Sukhorukov, G.B. Template-Free Manufacturing of Defined Structure and Size Polymeric Microparticles. Nanomaterials2023, 13, 2976.
Abdurashitov, A.S.; Proshin, P.I.; Sukhorukov, G.B. Template-Free Manufacturing of Defined Structure and Size Polymeric Microparticles. Nanomaterials 2023, 13, 2976.
Abstract
Complex-structured polymeric microparticles hold significant promise as advance in next-generation medicine mostly due to demand from developing targeted drug delivery. However, the conventional methods for producing these microparticles of defined size, shape and sophisticated composition often face challenges in scalability, reliance on specialized components such as micro-patterned templates, or have limited control over particle size distribution and cargo release kinetics. In this study, we introduce a novel and reliably scalable approach for manufacturing microparticles of defined structures and sizes with variable parameters. The concept behind this method involves the deposition of a specific number of polymer layers on a substrate with low surface energy. Each layer can serve as either the carrier for cargo or a programmable shell-former with predefined permeability. Subsequently, this layered structure is precisely cut into desired-sized blanks using a laser. The manufacturing process is completed by applying of heat to the substrate what results on sealing the edges of the blanks. The combination of the high surface tension of the molten polymer and the low surface energy of the substrate enables the formation of discrete particles, each possessing semi-spherical or other designed geometries determined by their internal composition. Such anisotropic microparticles are envisaged versatile applications.
Keywords
microparticles; scalable manufacturing; laser cutting; drug delivery; complex structures; composites; core-shell; defined size
Subject
Chemistry and Materials Science, Surfaces, Coatings and Films
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
