Microparticle
Microparticle
Microparticles (pronounced: /ˈmaɪkrəʊˌpɑːtɪkəl/) are small particles, typically in the range of 0.1 to 100 micrometres in size. They are often used in the fields of pharmaceutics, biotechnology, and nanotechnology.
Etymology
The term "microparticle" is derived from the Greek word "micros" meaning small, and the Latin word "particula" meaning a small part or portion.
Definition
Microparticles are defined as small, solid particles that range in size from 0.1 to 100 micrometres. They can be made from a variety of materials, including polymers, proteins, and lipids, and can be engineered to have specific properties, such as size, shape, and surface charge.
Applications
Microparticles have a wide range of applications in various fields. In pharmaceutics, they are used for drug delivery, as they can be designed to release their contents in a controlled manner. In biotechnology, they are used in the development of biosensors and diagnostic tests. In nanotechnology, they are used in the fabrication of nanocomposites and nanodevices.
Related Terms
- Nanoparticle: A particle that is smaller than a microparticle, typically in the range of 1 to 100 nanometres in size.
- Macroparticle: A particle that is larger than a microparticle, typically in the range of 100 micrometres to 1 millimetre in size.
- Drug delivery: The method or process of administering a pharmaceutical compound to achieve a therapeutic effect in humans or animals.
- Biosensor: A device that uses biological molecules to detect the presence of various chemicals in a sample.
- Diagnostic test: A test that is used to identify the presence of a disease or condition in a patient.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Microparticle
- Wikipedia's article - Microparticle
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