Hollow spherical nanoparticulate aggregates as potential ultrasound contrast agent: shell thickness characterization
Kunn Hadinoto1, Wean Sin Cheow
1School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. kunnong@ntu.edu.sg
Objective:
The objective of this work is to manufacture hollow spherical nanoparticulate aggregates for use as an ultrasound contrast agent by means of spray drying of nanoparticulate suspension at a fast drying rate.
Methodology:
Biocompatible PMMA-MeOPEGMA and silica nanoparticles are used as the model nanoparticles. The impacts of changing the nanoparticle concentration, pH, and spray drying operating condition on the size and shell thickness-to-particle radius (S/R) ratio, which governs the shell mechanical stability, are investigated.
Results And Conclusion:
The results indicate that the hollow microspheres size varies between 2 and 10 mum having S/R ratio between 2% and 4%, where the smaller size particles exhibit a higher S/R ratio. The resultant S/R ratio is found to be more influenced by process parameters acting at the nanoparticle scale (e.g., suspension pH) than by the spray drying operating condition.
