mPEG-PLA from PolySciTech used in development of continuous nanoparticle generation system for large-scale nanoparticle production

Nanoparticles are generated by the carefully controlled solvent extraction of a polymer solution under emulsifying conditions which causes the polymer to self-form into small spheres (nanoparticles). There are many ways to generally accomplish this, however most have to be done in batch mode and are limited in scale. Recently, researchers at ETH Zurich (Switzerland) used mPEG-PLA (AK056) from PolySciTech (www.polyscitech.com) for generation of nanoparticles using a novel coaxial mixing system which can rapidly generate large quantities of particles. This research holds promise to enable large-scale production of nanoparticles. Read more: Bovone, Giovanni, Elia A. Guzzi, and Mark W. Tibbitt. "Flow‐based reactor design for the continuous production of polymeric nanoparticles." AIChE Journal (2019). https://aiche.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/aic.16840

“Abstract: Polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) are versatile and effective drug delivery systems (DDS) that can be produced via nanoprecipitation of block copolymers. Yet, translation into clinical products has been limited. Thus, methods for NP production that enable rapid formulation screening and continuous production are needed. Toward this end, we engineered a coaxial jet mixer (CJM) for controlled and continuous nanoprecipitation in flow. The CJM enabled continuous assembly of poly(ethylene glycol)‐block‐polylactide NPs with various co‐solvents and was compared to batch nanoprecipitation. Other fabricated microfluidic devices were suitable for small scale formulation screening but more limited in scalable and continuous processes. In contrast, the CJM was tolerant to all water‐miscible solvents tested, enabled formulation screening, and scalable production of NPs and DDS. In total, the CJM provides a complementary approach to the process engineering of polymeric NP formation that can be used broadly for formulation screening and production.”