Matrix microcapsules

A large variety of drug delivery systems are described in the literature, such as liposomes (Torchilin, 2006), micro and nanoparticles (Kumar, 2000), polymeric micelles (Torchilin, 2006), nanocrystals (Muller et al., 2011), among others. Microparticles are usually classified as microcapsules or microspheres (Figure 8). Microspheres are matrix spherical microparticles where the drug may be located on the surface or dissolved into the matrix. Microcapsules are characterized as spherical particles more than Ipm containing a core substance (aqueous or lipid), normally lipid, and are used to deliver poor soluble molecules... 

Matrix microcapsules in which the center substance is dispersed consistently into the covering matter. 

Fig. 1. Schematic diagrams of several possible capsule stmctures (a) continuous core/sheU microcapsule in which a single continuous sheU surrounds a continuous region of core material (b) multinuclear microcapsule in which a number of small domains of core material are distributed uniformly throughout a matrix of sheU material and (c) continuous core capsule with two different sheUs.

Matrix microparticles or microcapsules with sizes in the range 0.1 -100 pm... 

A comparison of dissolution properties from matrix tablets prepared from microcapsules and mixtures containing phenobarbitone and poly(DL-lactic acid)... 

The release from microcap systems is more complicated. First the drug has to dissolve in dissolution fluid which has diffused into the tablets via pores and then between the plates of poly (DL-lactic acid) forming the walls of the microcapsules. This drug solution then has to diffuse out of the tablet via the same route. The effect of compression on the release has more significance in the simple matrix tablets than the microcap systems, because of the above mechanism of release. Higher compressions reduce the size of the pores between the poly(DL-lactic acid) plates, which extends the release. 

Entrapping of bioactive ingredients by polymer matrix in gel or microgel particles heat-induced or cold-induced aggregation and gelation of globular proteins (microcapsules of 5-5000 pm)... 

An unusual type of derivative is the complex that forms between urease and bentonite in acid medium (61). The adsorbed form was found catalytically active. Similarly, urease immobilized in a polyacrylamide gel matrix has been used to prepare a urea-specific enzyme electrode (62). Yet another active water-insoluble derivative has been prepared (63) by allowing p-chloromercuribenzoate-treated urease to react with a diazotized copolymer of p-amino-D,L-Phe and L-Leu. Urease has been found to retain about 20% of its original activity when encapsulated in 100 n microcapsules of benzalkonium-heparin in collodion (64). 

Syntactic foamed plastics (from the Greek ovvxa C, to put together) or spheroplastics are a special kind of gas filled polymeric material. They consist of a polymer matrix, called the binder, and a filler of hollow spherical particles, called microspheres, microcapsules, or microballoons, distributed within the binder. Expoxy and phenolic resins, polyesters, silicones, polyurethanes, and several other polymers and oligomers are used as binders, while the fillers have been made of glass, carbon, metal, ceramics, polymers, and resins. The foamed plastic is formed by the microcapsular method, i.e. the gas-filled particles are inserted into the polymer binder1,2). 

The area-to-volume ratio can be increased by growing cells on spongy polymers, on a ceramic matrix, in hollow fibers, in microcapsules, or on microscopically small beads called microcarriers. 

Volodkin DV, Petrov Al, Prevot M et al (2004) Matrix polyelectrolyte microcapsules new system for macromolecule encapsulation. Langmuir 20 3398-3406... 

The University of Illinois developed a technology for repairing hairline cracks in RPs by embedding microcapsules containing monomers corresponding to the plastic matrix.403 404... 

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