title: Semi-automated nanoprecipitation-system--an option for operator independent, scalable and size adjustable nanoparticle synthesis.
abstract: The preparation of nano-sized carrier systems increasingly moved into focus of pharmaceutical research and industry in the past decades. Besides the drug load and properties of the selected polymer/lipid, the size of such particles is one of the most important parameters regarding their use as efficient drug delivery systems. However, the preparation of nanoparticles with different sizes in a controlled manner is challenging, especially in terms of reproducibility and scale-up possibility. To overcome these hurdles we developed a system relying on nanoprecipitation, which meets all these requirements of an operator independent, scalable and size-adjustable nanoparticle synthesis-the Semi-Automated Nanoprecipitation-System. This system enables the adaption of the particle size to specific needs based on the process parameters-injection rate, flow rate and polymer concentration-identified within this study. The basic set-up is composed of a syringe pump and a gear pump for a precise control of the flow and injection speed of the system. Furthermore, a home-made tube-straightener guarantees a curvature-free injection point. Thus it could be shown that the production of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) nanoparticles from 150 to 600 nm with a narrow size distribution in a controlled semi-automatic manner is possible.
authors.affiliation: Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Department of Drug Delivery (DDEL), Saarland University, Building A4.1, 66123, Saarbruecken, Germany, rene.rietscher@mx.uni-saarland.de.
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rietscher
authors.forename: Carolin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thum
authors.forename: Claus-Michael
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lehr
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schneider
mesh_terms: D001331:Automation; D011232:Chemical Precipitation; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D004337:Drug Carriers; D004867:Equipment Design; D053758:Nanoparticles; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D011098:Polyglactin 910 / Q000737:chemistry*; D013594:Syringes; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D011098:Polyglactin 910