Polymeric microbeads and method of preparation

A porous crosslinked polymeric microbead produced by the process comprising

• a. combining
• i. a continuous phase comprising
• (1) a substantially water-insoluble, monofunctional monomer;
• (2) a substantially water-insoluble, polyfunctional crosslinking agent at a concentration in the range of about 25 to about 90 weight percent of the continuous phase;
• (3) an emulsifier that is suitable for forming a stable water-in-oil emulsion;
• and
• (4) a porogen selected from the group consisting of dodecane, toluene, cyclohexanol, n-heptane, isooctane, and petroleum ether;
• and
• ii. an aqueous discontinuous phase to form an emulsion, wherein the emulsion comprises at least about 70% aqueous discontinuos phase;
• b. combining
• i. a water-soluble polymerization initiator;
• ii. a suspending agent;
• and
• iii. an aqueous medium to form an aqueous suspension medium;
• c. adding the emulsion to the aqueous suspension medium to form an oil-in-water suspension of dispersed emulsion droplets;
• and
• d. polymerizing the emulsion droplets.

A process for producing a porous, crosslinked polymeric microbead comprising

• a. combining
• i. a continuous phase comprising
• (1) a substantially water-insoluble, monofunctional monomer;
• (2) a substantially water-insoluble, polyfunctional crosslinking agent at a concentration in the range of about 25 to about 90 weight percent of the continuous phase;
• and
• (3) an emulsifier that is suitable for forming a stable water-in,oil emulsion;
• and
• ii. an aqueous discontinuous phase to form an emulsion, wherein the emulsion comprises at least about 70% aqueous discontinuous phase;
• b. combining
• i. a suspending agent;
• and
• ii. an aqueous medium to form an aqueous suspension medium;
• c. adding the emulsion to the aqueous suspension medium to form an oil-in-water suspension of dispersed emulsion droplets;
• and
• d. polymerizing the emulsion droplets.

A process for producing a porous, crosslinked polymeric microbead comprising

• a. combining
• i. a continuous phase comprising
• (1) a substantially water-insoluble, monofunctional monomer;
• (2) a substantially water-insoluble, polyfunctional crosslinking agent;
• (3) an emulsifier that is suitable for forming a stable water-in-oil emulsion;
• and
• (4) a porogen selected from the group consisting of dodecane, toluene, cyclohexanol, n-heptane, isooctane, and petroleum ether;
• and
• ii. an aqueous discontinuous phase to form an emulsion, wherein the emulsion comprises at least about 70% aqueous discontinuous phase;
• b. combining
• i. a suspending agent;
• and
• ii. an aqueous medium to form an aqueous suspension medium;
• adding the emulsion to the aqueous suspension medium to form an oil-in-water suspension of dispersed emulsion droplets;
• and
• d. polymerizing the emulsion droplets.

A process for producing a porous, crosslinked polymeric microbead comprising

• a. combining
• i. a continuous phase comprising
• (1) a substantially water-insoluble, monofunctional monomer;
• (2) a substantially water-insoluble, polyfunctional crosslinking agent;
• and
• (3) an emulsifier that is suitable for forming a stable water-in-oil emulsion;
• and
• ii. an aqueous discontinuous phase to form an emulsion, wherein the emulsion comprises at least about 70% aqueous discontinuous phase;
• b. combining
• i. a suspending agent comprising a finely divided, water-insoluble inorganic solid;
• and
• ii. an aqueous medium to form an aqueous suspension medium;
• c. adding the emulsion to the aqueous suspension medium to form an oil-in-water suspension of dispersed emulsion droplets;
• and
• d. polymerizing the emulsion droplets.

A process for producing a porous, crosslinked polymeric microbead comprising

• a. combining
• i. a continuous phase comprising
• (1) a substantially water-insoluble, monofunctional monomer;
• (2) a substantially water-insoluble, polyfunctional crosslinking agent at a concentration in the range of about 25 to about 90 weight percent of the continuous phase;
• (3) an emulsifier that is suitable for forming a stable water-in-oil emulsion;
• and
• (4) a porogen selected from the group consisting of dodecane, toluene, cyclohexanol, n-heptane, isooctane, and petroleum ether;
• and
• ii. an aqueous discontinuous phase to form an emulsion, wherein the emulsion comprises at least about 70% aqueous discontinuous phase;
• b. combining
• i. a water-soluble polymerization initiator;
• and
• ii. a suspending agent;
• with an aqueous medium to form an aqueous suspension medium;
• c. adding the emulsion to the aqueous suspension medium to form an oil-in-water suspension of dispersed emulsion droplets;
• and
• d. polymerizing the emulsion droplets.