Spheronized polymer particles

• US 10,669,383 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Issued: 06/02/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Evonik Corporation (Rag-Stiftung)
• Original Assignee: Evonik Corporation (Rag-Stiftung)
• Inventors: Campbell, Jason N., Hudson, Bruce W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Penny, Tabatha L
• Application Number:
  US11/928,559
• Publication Number:
  US 20080103277A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,599 Days
• Field of Search: 427 214, 427220
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 2009/166 Deforming granules to give a special form, e.g. spheroidizing, rounding
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 9/16 Auxiliary treatment of granules
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 63/90 Purification; Drying
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2367/04 Polyesters derived from hydroxy carboxylic acids, e.g. lactones C08J2367/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 3/12 Powdering or granulating

Abstract

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.

Claims

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 μ

m to about 1000 μ

m in diameter.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising attaching a secondary component to the surface of the spheroid polymer particle.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-spheroid polymer particle has a length×

width×

height of from about 40 μ

m3 to about 1 mm3.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the spheroid polymer particle is from about 20 μ

m to about 1000 μ

m in diameter.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the spheroid polymer particle is from about 50 μ

m to about 1000 μ

m in diameter.

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 μ

m to about 1000 μ

m in diameter.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising attaching a secondary component to the surface of the particle.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein the first polymer particle has a length×

width×

height of from about 40 μ

m3 to about 1 mm3.

20. The method of claim 9, wherein the spheroid polymer particle is from about 20 μ

m to about 1000 μ

m in diameter.

21. The method of claim 9, wherein the second polymer particle is from about 50 μ

m to about 1000 μ

m.

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.