Patent ID: 7879304
Filing Date: 2011-02-01
Classification: A61K

Abstract:
1. A method of producing monodisperse non-hollow mesoporous silica spheres having a diameter of greater than or equal to about 3 μm and less than or equal to about 50 μm comprising: combining a precursor aqueous or alcohol based solution comprising tetraethylorthosilicate with an amphiphile to form a sol; creating monodisperse droplets of said sol using a vibrating orifice aerosol generator, mixing a volume of the monodisperse droplets with a volume of dry air, wherein the volume of dry air is larger than the volume of monodisperse droplets; evaporating solvent from said monodisperse droplets of said sol to induce self-assembly of said amphiphile in said monodisperse spheres; heating to promote condensation of said tetraethylorthosilicate to produce said silica; and removal of said amphiphile by thermal or chemical means; to produce a monodisperse population of non-hollow mesoporous silica spheres having a diameter of greater than or equal to about 3 μm and less than or equal to about 50 μm.