Microparticles

Sub-micron particles is understood in physics and biology smallest particles with diameters less than one millimeter.

Microparticles are in the living world before eg as constrictions of biomembranes inside the cell. Depending on the function they are called lysosomes, endosomes, microbody, peroxisomes or microsomes. Of particular importance are outwardly emitted by constriction of the cell membrane microparticles, such as endothelial microparticles. As a non - biological microparticle, inter alia, certain aerosols are referred to (sand and dust particles ) that are considered part of the air as particulate matter of great interest. The microparticles in the size range of 0.5 to 5 microns are capable especially efficient in the alveoli of the lung to enter, while smaller nanoparticles exhaled again more and larger particles from the nasal mucosa and epithelium of the bronchi to be retained.

Microparticles can be produced artificially for technical and pharmaceutical applications. If these are surrounded by a lipid-containing membrane, we speak for example of liposomes. Solid microparticles made ​​of rubber, polystyrene, glass and various metals such as gold, silver and copper will find a wide application in industrial processes and in medical diagnostics. In this case, the specific surface properties of the microparticles are used to treat certain substances to the particle surface to bind (for example, antibody). This wide application is also due to the fact that micro- particles compared to particles in the millimeter range have a very large surface area in a small volume of material and are technically simple to produce.

• Physical chemistry
• Cell Biology