CONTROLLED SIZE POLYMERIC MICROSPHERES WITH SUPERPARAMAGNETIC CORES

摘要

Stable biocompatible polymeric microspheres include a polymer shell encapsulating a superparamagnetic magnetite core. The microspheres are prepared by the controlled synthesis of magnetite and encapsulating the magnetite with a polymer coat in a unitary process within the confines of a water droplet of a water-in-oil microemulsion. The microemulsion water droplet acts as a microreactor and enables the control of the size of the magnetite core and the polymer coating. The resulting polymeric microspheres, as synthesized, have a narrow size distribution and each contains a single stabilized superparamagnetic magnetite crystal core encapsulated within a coat of a biocompatible random co-polymer that is capable of being functionalized.