Abstract

A REVIEW ON CONCEPT OF POROUS MICROSPHERE AND ITS APPLICATION IN HEALTHCARE

Arindam Chakraborty, Priyanka Ray, Sumana Roy and Prapti Chakraborty*

ABSTRACT

Porous microspheres are a type of microsphere that have interconnected voids or pores within their structure. These pores can be of various sizes and distributions, offering a range of porosity levels and surface areas. Here is a brief explanation of porous microspheres. Porosity and Structure: Porous microspheres are designed to have an open-cell structure, which means they contain empty spaces or voids throughout their volume. These voids can be interconnected, allowing for the flow of fluids or gases through the microsphere. The porosity of the microspheres refers to the fraction of the total volume that is occupied by the pores. Surface Area: The presence of pores in porous microspheres significantly increases their surface area compared to solid microspheres of the same size. The increased surface area offers more sites for interactions with substances such as gases, liquids, or molecules, making porous microspheres useful for adsorption,
catalysis, and drug delivery applications. Synthesis Methods: Porous microspheres can be synthesized using various techniques. One common method is the emulsion templating technique, where the microspheres are formed by emulsifying a mixture of a polymer solution and a porogen (a substance that can be later removed to create pores). After solidification, the porogen is leached out, leaving behind pores in the microspheres. Other methods include the use of sacrificial templates or the incorporation of gas or blowing agents during polymerization. The high surface area and porosity of porous microspheres make them effective adsorbents for the removal of pollutants, heavy metals, or organic compounds from liquids or gases. Drug Delivery: The porous structure of microspheres allows for the encapsulation and controlled release of drugs. The drugs can be loaded within the pores, and the release kinetics can be tuned by adjusting the pore size and connectivity. Insulation and Lightweight Materials: Porous microspheres can be incorporated into materials to enhance their thermal insulation properties or to reduce their density while maintaining mechanical strength. Porous microspheres offer unique opportunities for various industries and research fields, thanks to their porosity, high surface area, and tunable properties.[1]

Keywords: Porosity, Microsphere, Adsorption, Encapsulation, Porogen.