Spheronized polymer particles
Spheroid polymer particles are prepared from non-spheroid particles by heating the non-spheroid particles in a liquid medium to a temperature that is above the glass transition temperature or the melting temperature of the polymer and then cooling.
1. A method of producing a spheroid polymer particle, comprising:
a. providing a mixture comprising a non-spheroid polymer particle and a liquid medium, wherein the polymer particle comprises one or more secondary components selected from the group consisting of pharmaceutical, biomolecule, imaging agent, targeting moiety, or magnetic particle, wherein the liquid medium comprises a surfactant; and wherein the polymer particle is at least partially insoluble in the liquid medium;
b. heating the mixture above the glass transition temperature or the melting temperature of the polymer while mixing the mixture; and
c. cooling the mixture to below the glass transition temperature or melting temperature of the polymer,
thereby producing a spheroid polymer particle;
wherein the non-spheroid polymer particle comprises a poly(lactide-glycolide) copolymer, lactide homopolymer, glycolide homopolymer, caprolactone, or a mixture thereof.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the non-spheroid polymer particle is a ground polymer or a cutting from a polymeric rod or fiber extrudate.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the non-spheroid polymer particle is contacted with a plasticizer prior to step a, prior to step b, or during step b.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the liquid medium is water.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the surfactant is polyvinylalcohol.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the liquid medium comprises an additive.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the spheroid particle is from about 1 μm to about 1000 μm in diameter.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising attaching a secondary component to the surface of the spheroid polymer particle.
9. A method of reducing monomer content of a polymer particle, comprising:
a. providing a mixture comprising a first polymer particle having an initial residual monomer content and a liquid medium, wherein the first polymer particle comprises one or more secondary components selected from the group consisting of pharmaceutical, biomolecule, imaging agent, targeting moiety, or magnetic particle, wherein the liquid medium comprises a surfactant; and wherein the first polymer particle is at least partially insoluble in the liquid medium;
b. heating the mixture above the glass transition temperature or the melting temperature of the polymer while mixing the mixture; and
c. cooling the mixture to below the glass transition temperature or melting temperature of the polymer,
thereby producing a second polymer particle having a monomer content that is less than the initial residual monomer content;
wherein the first polymer particle comprises a poly(lactide-glycolide) copolymer, lactide homopolymer, glycolide homopolymer, caprolactone, or a mixture thereof.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first polymer particle is a ground polymer or a cutting from a polymeric rod or fiber extrudate.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first polymer particle is contacted with a plasticizer prior to step a, prior to step b, or during step b.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the liquid medium is water.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the surfactant is polyvinylalcohol.
14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the second polymer particle is from about 1 μm to about 1000 μm in diameter.
15. The method of claim 9 , further comprising attaching a secondary component to the surface of the particle.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the non-spheroid polymer particle has a length×width×height of from about 40 μm3 to about 1 mm3.
17. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first polymer particle has a length×width×height of from about 40 μm3 to about 1 mm3.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the spheroid polymer particle is from about 20 μm to about 1000 μm in diameter.
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the spheroid polymer particle is from about 50 μm to about 1000 μm in diameter.
20. The method of claim 9 , wherein the spheroid polymer particle is from about 20 μm to about 1000 μm in diameter.
21. The method of claim 9 , wherein the second polymer particle is from about 50 μm to about 1000 μm.
22. A method of producing a spheroid polymer particle, comprising:
a. providing a mixture comprising a non-spheroid polymer particle and a liquid medium, wherein the polymer particle comprises one or more secondary components selected from the group consisting of pharmaceutical, biomolecule, imaging agent, targeting moiety, or magnetic particle, wherein the liquid medium comprises a surfactant; and wherein the polymer particle is at least partially insoluble in the liquid medium;
b. heating the mixture above the glass transition temperature or the melting temperature of the polymer while mixing the mixture; and
c. cooling the mixture to below the glass transition temperature or melting temperature of the polymer,
thereby producing a spheroid polymer particle; and
d. attaching a secondary component to the surface of the spheroid polymer particle,
wherein the non-spheroid polymer particle comprises a poly(lactide-glycolide) copolymer, lactide homopolymer, glycolide homopolymer, caprolactone, or a mixture thereof.
23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the secondary component comprises collagen.