PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF MICROPARTICLES

摘要

THE INVENTION PROVIDES A PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF BIODEGRADABLE BIOCOMPATIBLE MICROPARTICLES, SAID PROCESS COMPRISING: CONTACTING MICROPARTICLES COMPRISING A BIODEGRADABLE BIOCOMPATIBLE POLYMER MATRIX CONTAINING AN ACTIVE (E.G. PHARMACEUTICAL OR DIAGNOSTIC) AGENT AND AN ORGANIC SOLVENT WITH AN AQUEOUS SOLVENT SYSTEM WHEREBY THE CONTENT OF SAID ORGANIC SOLVENT IN SAID PARTICLES IS REDUCED TO 2OR LESS OF THE WEIGHT OF SAID PARTICLES, SAID SOLVENT SYSTEM BEING SUCH AS TO SATISFY AT LEAST ONE OF THE CONDITIONS (A) THAT IT IS AT AN ELEVATED TEMPERATURE (E.G. FROM 25 TO 40°C) DURING AT LEAST PART OF THE TIME THAT IT IS IN CONTACT WITH SAID PARTICLES, AND (B) THAT IT COMPRISES WATER AND A WATER-MISCIBLE SOLVENT FOR SAID ORGANIC SOLVENT; AND RECOVERING SAID PARTICLES FROM SAID AQUEOUS SOLVENT SYSTEM. (FIGURE 1)