Importance

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Abstract

The invention relates to composite materials comprising polymer nanofibers and polymer nanoparticles, wherein at least one of the two polymer materials is loaded with a substance selected from therapeutic and diagnostic agents. Fibers and nanoparticles can comprise identical or different polymers; the polymer materials are, however, biocompatible in every case. Therapeutic and diagnostic agents can be hydrophilic or lipophilic and the two polymer materials likewise. The at least one polymer material and the substance with which said material is loaded are either both hydrophilic or both lipophilic. The polymer nanoparticles of the composite materials have a diameter of 10 nm to 600 nm. The polymer fibers have diameters of 10 nm to 50 μm and lengths of 1 μm to several meters. The invention further relates to a method for producing said composite materials. Polymer nanoparticles can be produced in different ways, such as through controlled precipitation of a polymer solution that optionally comprises a loading substance. The nanoparticles are then mixed with another polymer and a loading substance as applicable, depending on whether particles, fibers or both are to be loaded with substance. The processing of this solution into composites comprising polymer fibers polymer nanoparticles can occur by means of electrospinning, melt spinning, extruding or template process. Composite materials according to the invention are suitable for the production of pharmaceuticals that release therapeutically or diagnostically effective substances slowly and in a controlled manner.

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First Claim