Insight into drug encapsulation in polymeric nanoparticles using microfluidic nanoprecipitation. (18th May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Wei; Chen, Qiaoli; Baby, Thejus; Jin, Song; Liu, Yun; Yang, Guangze; Zhao, Chun-Xia
• Is Part Of: Chemical engineering science. Volume 235(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-05-18
• Subjects: Microfluidic -- Self-assembly -- Nanoparticles -- mPEG-PLGA -- Polymer nanoparticles -- Nanoprecipitation -- Drug encapsulation; Chemical engineering -- Periodicals; Génie chimique -- Périodiques; Chemical engineering; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 660
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2021.116468
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-2509

Abstract

Highlights: A combined computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and experimental approach to illustrate microfluidic nanoprecipitation. Mixing times of a polymer and a drug are determined using a CFD method. Drug loading is dependent on the mixing time of the polymer and drug. The precipitation time of polymer and drug should be matched for drug encapsulation. Abstract: Synthesis of polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) through self-assembly of di-block copolymers have attracted substantial interest in the past decades for drug delivery and controlled release. Microfluidics offers a facile approach for making such NPs and drug encapsulation. However, a fundamental understanding of the drug encapsulation process is lacking. In this paper, we report a combined computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and experimental approach to illustrate the fundamental principle that governs the encapsulation of a drug in polymeric NPs through microfluidic nanoprecipitation. Taking a drug curcumin and a polymer poly (ethylene glycol)-block-poly (d, l -lactide-co-glycolide) (PEG-PLGA) as a model system, we demonstrated the different precipitation times of curcumin and PEG-PLGA as well as their mixing times in the microfluidic device. The big difference in their mixing times led to very low drug loading. This study provides a new perspective in understanding and controlling the formation of drug-loaded polymeric NPs and offers a new design rule for selecting the right combinations of drugs, polymers, solvents, and devices.