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US 6,333,021 B1Granted
Microcapsules, method of making and their use
AssigneeBracco Research S.A.
InventorsMichel Schneider, Philippe Bussat
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AssigneeBracco Research S.A.
InventorsMichel Schneider, Philippe Bussat
Estimating the term…
The invention relates to microcapsules to a microcapsule with a mean size from a fraction of micrometer to 1000 micrometers having a biodegradable membrane encapsulating a gas core. The membrane comprising one or more biodegradable water insoluble lipids or mixtures thereof and optionally mixtures of the lipids with up to 75% by weight of biodegradable polymers encapsulates the core which is filled with air or a gas. Microcapsules disclosed, may be non-coalescent, dry and instantly dispersible, when in suspension in a physiologically acceptable carrier are useful as delivery vehicles for therapeutically active agents and/or as contrast agents for echographic imaging of organs of human or animal body. The microcapsules of the invention are made by a method in which a water-in-oil emulsion is made from an organic solution comprising dissolved a mono-, di-, triglyceride preferably tripalmitin or tristearin and optionally therapeutically active substance and an aqueous solution containing a surfactant, optionally evaporating part of the solvent, adding a redispersing agent and freeze drying the mixture. The freeze dried mixture is then redispersed in an aqueous carrier to separate microcapsules from debris and the semi-spherical or spherical microcapsules are dried.
A solid microcapsule for use in ultrasound echography with a mean size from a fraction of micrometer to 1000 micrometers, the microcapsule having a biodegradable, 50 to 500 nm thick solid membrane encapsulating an air or a gaseous core, wherein the solid membrane consists essentially of the membrane-forming constituents:
A solid microcapsule for use in ultrasound echography with a mean size from a fraction of micrometer to 1000 micrometers, the microcapsule having a biodegradable, 50 to 500 nm thick solid membrane encapsulating an air or a gaseous core, wherein the solid membrane comprises, as the membrane-forming constituents:
A solid microcapsule for use in ultrasound echography with a mean size from a fraction of micrometer to 1000 micrometers, the microcapsule having a biodegradable, 50 to 500 nm thick solid, at least partially non amorphous, dense membrane encapsulating an air or a gaseous core, wherein the solid membrane is a tangible, material envelope consisting essentially of as the membrane-forming constituents:
A solid microcapsule for use in ultrasound echography with a mean size from a fraction of micrometer to 1000 micrometers, the microcapsule having a biodegradable, 50 to 500 nm thick solid, at least partially non-amorphous, dense membrane encapsulating an air or a gaseous core, wherein the solid membrane is a tangible, material envelope consisting essentially of the membrane-forming constituents:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.