Polymeric particle formation through electrospraying at low atmospheric pressure

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Electrospraying is a versatile method for creating polymeric particles.
• Previous studies largely ignored pressure's influence on electrospraying outcomes.
• Understanding pressure effects is key to optimizing particle fabrication.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of reduced pressure and solution concentration on electrosprayed poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) particle morphology.
• To determine optimal conditions for generating uniform polymeric particles for drug delivery.
• To explore the relationship between process parameters and particle microstructure.

Main Methods:

• Electrospraying of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) solutions at varying pressures (ambient to 380 mmHg below ambient).
• Systematic variation of PCL solution concentrations (3-7 w/v %).
• Analysis of particle microstructure and morphology using scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Main Results:

• Decreased chamber pressure led to an increase in average particle size.
• Uniform, spherical PCL particles were achieved at 5 w/v % concentration and 150 mmHg below ambient pressure.
• Higher concentrations (7 w/v %) resulted in the formation of electrospun fibers.

Conclusions:

• Pressure is a critical parameter influencing electrosprayed polymeric particle size and morphology.
• Low-pressure electrospraying offers a method for fabricating tailored polymeric particles.
• This technique is promising for developing polymeric drug delivery carriers, especially for temperature-sensitive compounds.