Microsphere

{
  "id": "MLC-T-CHM-007362",
  "term": "Microsphere",
  "field": "Chemistry",
  "definition": "A spherical microparticle that has no membrane or distinct outer layer, with dimensions between roughly 0.1 and 100 micrometres. Microspheres are made from polymers, glass or ceramics and are used as carriers in drug delivery and as beads in diagnostic assays. A microcapsule, by contrast, has a solid shell around a core, and release from it is typically zero-order while release from a microsphere follows first-order diffusion.",
  "subject": "Polymer",
  "see_also": [
    "microcapsule"
  ],
  "references": [
    "PAC, 2012, 84, 377. 'Terminology for biorelated polymers and applications (IUPAC Recommendations 2012)' on page 393 (https://doi.org/10.1351/PAC-REC-10-12-04)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/chemistry/microsphere/"
}