Drugs can be made up of nucleic acids, sugars, small organic and inorganic compounds, peptides, and large macromolecules. Drug therapy can be optimized by controlled delivery systems that release an appropriate dose to the site of action, extend the duration of delivery, reduce administration sessions, and can target a precise site of activity. An advanced method of controlled drug delivery is through injectable polymeric biomaterial microparticles that entrap drugs within their matrix for slow release (1-6 months). Surface morphology of polymer microparticles is known to affect drug release;​ however, it is often reported in qualitative terms only.

In this thesis, a mastery over the controlled fabrication of biodegradable poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) microspheres is shown, as well as their characterization using different imaging conditions/techniques of the scanning electron microscope (SEM). Retinoic acid (RA), a morphogenic molecule, is encapsulated to create RA/PCL microspheres that are used to successfully deliver drug to human induced pluripotent stem cell aggregates. Furthermore, this works reports the creation of variable surface morphology PCL microspheres and their characterization via size analysis and stereo-microscopy. A rough morphology candidate is identified and selected for 3D SEM surface model reconstruction via a computer vision technique. Surface studies via SEM have a lot of potential to advance the development of these particles. The 3D model first reported here serves as foundation for quantitative surface morphology measurements.