Methods for fabricating isolated micro- or nano-structures using soft or imprint lithography
The presently disclosed subject matter describes the use of fluorinated elastomer-based materials, in particular perfluoropolyether (PFPE)-based materials, in high-resolution soft or imprint lithographic applications, such as micro- and nanoscale replica molding, and the first nano-contact molding of organic materials to generate high fidelity features using an elastomeric mold. Accordingly, the presently disclosed subject matter describes a method for producing free-standing, isolated nanostructures of any shape using soft or imprint lithography technique.
1. A plurality of monodisperse micro or nano sized particles, comprising:
a pharmaceutically or therapeutically active agent, wherein said agent is present throughout the particle;
wherein each particle of the plurality has a substantially uniform three-dimensional engineered shape having parallel lateral surfaces and parallel top and bottom surfaces in cross-section, wherein;
the size of each particle of the plurality is less than about 100 micrometers in a broadest dimension.
2. The plurality of claim 1 , wherein each particle of the plurality further comprises a degradable material.
3. The plurality of claim 1 , wherein the broadest dimension is less than about 10 micrometers.
4. The plurality of claim 1 , wherein the broadest dimension is less than about 3 micrometers.
5. The plurality of claim 1 , wherein the broadest dimension is less than about 1 micrometer.
6. The plurality of claim 1 , wherein the broadest dimension is less than about 500 namometers.
7. The plurality of claim 1 , wherein the broadest dimension is less than about 250 namometers.
8. The plurality of claim 1 , wherein the broadest dimension is less than about 200 nanometers.
9. The plurality of claim 1 , wherein the broadest dimension is less than about 100 nanometers.
10. The plurality of claim 1 , wherein the engineered shape is a molded shape.
11. The plurality of claim 1 , wherein each particle of the plurality is free-standing.
12. The plurality of claim 1 , wherein each particle of the plurality comprises a polymer.
13. A plurality of micro or nano sized particles, comprising:
two or more particles comprising a pharmaceutically or therapeutically active agent, wherein said agent is present throughout the particle;
wherein each particle has a substantially uniform three-dimensional shape having parallel lateral surfaces and parallel top and bottom surfaces in cross-section and is less than about 100 micrometers in a broadest dimension.
14. The plurality of claim 13 , wherein each particle of the plurality has a substantially uniform volume.
15. The plurality of claim 13 , wherein each particle of the plurality further comprises a polymer.
16. The plurality of claim 15 , wherein the polymer comprises a biodegradable polymer.
17. The plurality of claim 13 , wherein each particle of the plurality is less than about 10 micrometers in a broadest dimension.
18. The plurality of claim 13 , wherein the three dimensional shape mimics a shape of mold.