title: Feasibility of preparing nanodrugs by high-gravity reactive precipitation.
abstract: To study the feasibility of producing nanoparticles of organic pharmaceuticals using a novel high-gravity reactive precipitation (HGRP) technique, reactive precipitation of benzoic acid as a model compound was carried out in a rotating packed bed under high gravity. The main factors such as the rotating bed speed, concentration and volume flow rate of the reactants (sodium benzoate and HCl) affecting the particle size of the precipitate were studied. Particle size was measured by transmission electron microscopy. Benzoic acid was precipitated as nanoparticles as fine as 10nm. The particle size was decreased with increasing rotating bed speed, concentration and volume flow rate of the reactants. The formation of ultrafine particles was due to intensified micro-mixing of reactants in the rotating bed to enhance nucleation while suppressing crystal growth. The results have demonstrated the feasibility to produce nanodrugs by the principle of acid-base precipitating reaction using HGRP.
authors.affiliation: Research Centre, Ministry of Education for High Gravity Engineering & Technology, College of Chemical Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, 100029 Beijing, PR China. chenjf@mail.buct.edu.cn
authors.forename: Jian-Feng
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Min-Yi
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: Yu-Yong
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jimmy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: Nora Y K
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Chew
authors.forename: Hak-Kim
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D019817:Benzoic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D011232:Chemical Precipitation; D002627:Chemistry, Physical; D015195:Drug Design; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006851:Hydrochloric Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D018471:Hypergravity; D036103:Nanotechnology; D010316:Particle Size; D012399:Rotation; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D019817:Benzoic Acid; D006851:Hydrochloric Acid