OBJECTIVES In this study, we evaluated the cellular origins and thrombogenic potential of microparticles. BACKGROUND Human atherosclerotic plaques contain submicron vesicles (microparticles) released during cell activation or apoptosis. METHODS Microparticles were purified from plaques and platelet-free plasma from 26 patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy. Flow cytometry analysis revea...

Emulsions are widely used in food industry, among others. Monosized droplets in emulsions have advantages for control of their properties, and application fields. We have developed microchannel emulsification (MC) technology for monosized droplets formation. The grooved type MC and module were used to characterize MC emulsification, and straight-through MC and module were developed for higher p...

Hollow (air-filled) microparticles, i.e., microbubbles, provide a promising novel vehicle for both local delivery of therapeutic agents and simultaneous diagnostic ultrasound echo investigations. In this paper, we describe the synthetic routes for decorating the polymeric shell of a poly(vinyl alcohol)-based microbubble with low and high molecular weight ligands with pharmacological relevance. ...

Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) have been reported to be an alternative system to emulsions, liposomes, microparticles and their polymeric counterparts for various application routes since the early 1990s due to their advantages. Various research groups have also increasingly focused on improving their stability in body fluids after administration by coating of particles with hydrophilic molecu...

A chronological sequence of urban soils 3-92 years old was studied to determine the effects of time on morphogenesis, artifact weathering, and the geochemical partitioning of Pb. Key chronofunctions determined are an increase in ˆA horizon Development Index (defined herein based on soil color) and water-soluble Pb, and a decrease in pH and C/N, with increasing soil age. Key artifact weathering ...

Polymeric materials have been used in a range of pharmaceutical and biotechnology products for more than 40 years. These materials have evolved from their earlier use as biodegradable products such as resorbable sutures, orthopaedic implants, macroscale and microscale drug delivery systems such as microparticles and wafers used as controlled drug release depots, to multifunctional nanoparticles...

PURPOSE In an effort to develop new therapeutic strategies to treat malignant gliomas, we have designed poly (lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) microparticles that deliver imatinib mesylate, a small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor. The local continuous release of imatinib mesylate at the tumor site overcomes many obstacles associated with systemic delivery. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Polymeric micr...

The degradation of polymeric biomaterials, which are widely exploited in tissue engineering and drug delivery systems, has drawn significant attention in recent years. This paper aims to develop a mathematical model that combines stochastic hydrolysis and mass transport to simulate the polymeric degradation and erosion process. The hydrolysis reaction is modeled in a discrete fashion by a funda...

There has been a growing interest in the design and development of polymeric microspheres as controlled release systems for drugs and antigens. Different types of polymers have been used to design biodegradable polymeric microparticles. Poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) microspheres have been extensively investigated because of their biocompatibility and biodegradability. PLGA has been appro...