Microfluidics-based single-step preparation of injection-ready polymeric nanosystems for medical imaging and drug delivery

Nanoscale. 2015 Oct 28;7(40):16983-93. doi: 10.1039/c5nr03543k.

Abstract

Translation of therapeutic polymeric nanosystems to patients and industry requires simplified, reproducible and scalable methods for assembly and loading. A single-step in-line process based on nanocoprecipitation of oxazoline-siloxane block copolymers in flow-focusing poly(dimethylsiloxane) microfluidics was designed to manufacture injection-ready nanosystems. Nanosystem characteristics could be controlled by copolymer concentration, block length and chemistry, microchannel geometry, flow rate, aqueous/organic flow rate ratio and payload concentration. The well-tolerated nanosystems exhibited differential cell binding and payload delivery and could confer sensitivity to photodynamic therapy to HeLa cancer cells. Such injection-ready nanosystems carrying drugs, diagnostic or functional materials may facilitate translation to clinical application.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Diagnostic Imaging / methods*
  • Dimethylpolysiloxanes / chemical synthesis
  • Dimethylpolysiloxanes / chemistry
  • Dimethylpolysiloxanes / pharmacology
  • Drug Carriers* / chemical synthesis
  • Drug Carriers* / chemistry
  • Drug Carriers* / pharmacology
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / methods*
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Photochemotherapy / methods*

Substances

  • Dimethylpolysiloxanes
  • Drug Carriers
  • baysilon