Preparation of biodegradable polyesteramide microspheres

Biodegradable polyesteramide copolymer P(CL/AU) based on epsilon-caprolactone and 11-aminoundecanoic acid was synthesized by the melt polycondensation method. Polyesteramide (PEA) microspheres were prepared by a simple O/W emulsion solvent evaporation method. The effects of variations in preparation parameters (such as emulsifier concentration, polymer concentration, polymer solution adding rate, stirring rate, and whether vacuum was applied) were studied in detail. The obtained microsphere morphologies were observed using an optical microscope and via scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The particle size distribution was determined using a Malvern laser particle sizer. When the PEA microspheres were incubated in PBS saline, the particle size increased at first, and then decreased after a longer time period; the theory that this behavior was due to degradation of the microspheres was confirmed by SEM.