PHOTOPOLYMERIZATION AND PRECIPITATION USING A COMPRESSED ANTISOLVENT: A NOVEL METHOD OF PRODUCING CROSSLINKED POLYMER MICROPARTICLES FOR DRUG DELIVERY APPLICATIONS

摘要

A novel method to photopolymerize multifunctional monomers using precipitation with a compressed antisolvent (supercritical CO_2, SCCO_2) to form crosslinked polymer networks has been developed. Advantages of this photopolymerization technique include morphological control through polymerization rate, process conditions, and initiation location. Photopolymerization occurs when these homogeneous solutions are exposed to initiating light while being simultaneously sprayed into SCCO_2. Resulting microparticles have a wide range of diameters, adjustable by changing the process conditions. Aerodynamic diameter analysis determines the particles size distributions of the products formed from varying the process conditions. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy of these particles confirms the formation of crosslinked polymer microparticles. Hydrophobic Ion Pairing (HIP) was used in conjunction with this process to encapsulate drug within the polymer microparticles. Drug/polymer homogeneity was measured using a fluorescence microscope and drug release characterized using absorbance spectroscopy.