Development of nanocapsules through the adaptation of polymer microcapsule fabrication method

Alterations were made to a microcapsule ultrasound contrast agent fabrication procedure, previously developed in our lab, to acquire a nanocapsule ultrasound contrast agent. The purpose of scaling down to nanocapsule fabrication is for their future use in targeted therapeutic imaging and drug delivery applications. Several experimental parameters, such as homogenization time, polymer concentration and amounts of encapsulating agents, were individually varied and their effects on capsule size were investigated. Hollow nanocapsules with acceptable size and echogenic properties were produced with this converted method.