Uniform biodegradable hydrogel microspheres fabricated by a surfactant-free electric-field-assisted method

Macromol Biosci. 2007 Apr 10;7(4):423-8. doi: 10.1002/mabi.200700020.

Abstract

Uniform biodegradable hydrogel microspheres (HMS) with precisely controlled size have been fabricated using an electric-field-assisted precision particle fabrication technique. Particle agglomeration was prevented by charging the hydrogel drops and allowing Coulomb repulsion to separate them. As a result, surfactant-free and non-toxic particle fabrication was possible and the resulting microspheres were most suitable for biomedical and food-related applications. Due to the size uniformity, the present HMS may serve as a convenient yet most accurate vehicle for controlled delivery of therapeutic agents and other active ingredients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Biocompatible Materials / chemistry*
  • Chitosan / chemistry*
  • Drug Delivery Systems*
  • Electrochemistry
  • Hydrogels / chemistry*
  • Microspheres*
  • Particle Size

Substances

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Hydrogels
  • Chitosan