Microfluidic reactor
Microfluidic techniques gain an ever-wider application in the field of chemical synthesis. Using these methods nano- and microparticles can be produced with unparalleled reproducibility over a wide size range. Polymeric nanoparticle-based drug carrier systems can significantly increase the bioavailability of drugs while enabling targeted delivery by surface functionalization and prolonged drug release. Using microfluidics, the nanoformulation of peptide-based drugs, usually available in small quantities, can be performed with high efficacy, that are not possible with traditional methods. Utilizing this novel synthesis approach the systematic optimization of nanoencapsulation can be realized even for small amounts of peptides. Compared with bulk nanoencapsulation methods microfluidics offer the possibility of synthesizing products with higher drug encapsulation efficiency and increased drug content.
In cooperative works the microfluidic systems will be used in the synthesis and the optimization of nanoformulation conditions of new small molecular and peptide-based antituberculotic and anticancer drug candidates. The effects of temperature, solvents and flow speeds on the particle size, drug content and encapsulation efficacy will be investigated. The results will enable the fine tuning of the synthesis of dispersed drug formulations and the increase of the drugs bioefficacy. The biological effects of the prepared formulations will be studied on cellular and animal models.
Ágnes Ábrahám, Gergő Gyulai