Microparticles

Abstract

A method of forming particles comprises accelerating a stream comprising a liquid; and vibrating the stream, to form particles. The particle may have a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the nozzle used to form the stream, allowing for the formation of micro- and nano-sized particle.

1 . A method of forming particles, comprising:
 accelerating a first stream comprising a first liquid; and   vibrating the first stream, to form particles.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising solidifying the particles. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the particles comprise a core and a shell. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the particles comprise a plurality of shells. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the particles comprise a pharmaceutical composition. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the core comprises a pharmaceutical composition. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the accelerating comprises contacting the first stream with a second stream, and the second stream comprises a second liquid. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the second stream surrounds the first stream. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the accelerating comprises applying charge to the first stream. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein
 a second stream comprising a second liquid surrounding the first stream, and   the accelerating further comprises accelerating the second stream.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the particles comprise a core and a shell. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the particles comprise a plurality of shells. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising forming the first stream by passing the first liquid through a nozzle. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the nozzle has a diameter greater than ½ an average diameter of the particles. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the nozzle has a diameter at least the average diameter of the particles. 
     
     
         16 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . Particles having an average diameter of 50 to 100 μm, wherein 90% of the particles have a diameter that is within 2% of an average diameter of the particles. 
     
     
         31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . Particles having an average diameter of 1 to 50 μm, wherein 90% of the particles have a diameter that is within 1 μm of an average diameter of the particles. 
     
     
         33 - 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . An apparatus for forming particles, comprising:
 (i) a first nozzle, for forming a first stream of a first liquid,   (ii) a second nozzle, oriented for forming a second stream of a second liquid in contact with the first stream, and   (iii) a vibrator, for forming particles from the first stream.   
     
     
         42 - 45 . (canceled) 
     
     
         46 . An apparatus for forming particles, comprising:
 (i) a first nozzle, for forming a first stream of a first liquid,   (ii) a charge source, for applying charge to the first stream, and   (iii) a vibrator, for forming particles from the first stream.   
     
     
         47 - 54 . (canceled) 
     
     
         55 . An apparatus for forming particles, comprising:
 (i) a first nozzle, for forming a first stream of a first liquid,   (ii) a second nozzle surrounding the first nozzle, for forming a second stream of a second liquid surrounding the first stream,   (iii) a charge source, for applying charge to at least one of the first and second streams.   
     
     
         56 - 62 . (canceled)