Polymeric encapsulation of nanoparticles

Abstract

Polymeric nanoencapsulation methods, which combine sonication and nonsolvent temperature induced crystallization, are provided. The steps include (a) providing active agent nanoparticles having an average diameter between about 5 and about 100 nm; (b) treating said active agent nanoparticies (e.g., a superparamagnetic material) with an anionic surfactant to form modified active agent nanoparticles; (c) mixing the modified active agent nanoparticles with a solution of a polymer in a solvent at a first temperature, which is greater than the melting temperature of the polymer and less than the boiling point of the solvent to form a first mixture, said mixing comprising the use of sonication; (d) mixing a non-solvent with the first mixture to form a second mixture, the non-solvent being a non-solvent for the solvent and for the polymer and having a boiling point greater than the melting temperature of the polymer; (e) sonicating the second mixture to form an emulsion; and (f) cooling the emulsion to a second temperature and at a rate effective to precipitate polymeric nanoparticles comprising the polymer with the modified active agent nanoparticles dispersed therein.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.