Microfluidic Assembly of Liposomes with Tunable Size and Coloading Capabilities

Methods Mol Biol. 2018:1792:205-214. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7865-6_15.

Abstract

Liposomes used for the delivery of pharmaceuticals have difficulties scaling up and reaching clinical translation as they suffer from batch-to-batch variability. Here, we describe a microfluidic approach for creating reproducible, homogenous nanoparticles with tunable characteristics. These nanoparticles of sizes ranging from 30 to 500 nm are rapidly self-assembled by controlling the flow rates of ethanol and aqueous streams. This method of microfluidic assembly allows for the efficient encapsulation of both hydrophobic and hydrophilic drugs in the lipid bilayer and particle core, respectively, either separately or in combination.

Keywords: Coloading; Liposomes; Microfluidics; Nanomedicine; Reproducibility; Scale up.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Drug Carriers* / chemistry
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Liposomes* / chemistry
  • Microfluidics* / methods
  • Nanomedicine / methods
  • Particle Size

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Drug Carriers
  • Liposomes