Formation and purification of tailored liposomes for drug delivery using a module-based micro continuous-flow system

Sci Rep. 2017 Sep 21;7(1):12045. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-11533-1.

Abstract

Liposomes are lipid based bilayer vesicles that can encapsulate, deliver and release low-soluble drugs and small molecules to a specific target site in the body. They are currently exploited in several nanomedicine formulations. However, their development and application is still limited by expensive and time-consuming process development and production methods. Therefore, to exploit these systems more effectively and support the rapid translation of new liposomal nanomedicines from bench to bedside, new cost-effective and scalable production methods are needed. We present a continuous process flow system for the preparation, modification and purification of liposomes which offers lab-on-chip scale production. The system was evaluated for a range of small vesicles (below 300 nm) varying in lipid composition, size and charge; it offers effective and rapid nanomedicine purification with high lipid recovery (> 98%) combined with effective removal of non-entrapped drug (propofol >95% reduction of non-entrapped drug present) or protein (ovalbumin >90% reduction of OVA present) and organic solvent (ethanol >95% reduction) in less than 4 minutes. The key advantages of using this bench-top, rapid, process development tool are the flexible operating conditions, interchangeable membranes and scalable high-throughput yields, thereby offering simultaneous manufacturing and purification of nanoparticles with tailored surface attributes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Drug Delivery Systems / methods*
  • Hypnotics and Sedatives / administration & dosage
  • Hypnotics and Sedatives / chemistry
  • Lab-On-A-Chip Devices*
  • Liposomes / chemistry*
  • Nanomedicine / methods
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Ovalbumin / administration & dosage
  • Ovalbumin / chemistry
  • Particle Size
  • Propofol / administration & dosage
  • Propofol / chemistry
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Solvents / chemistry

Substances

  • Hypnotics and Sedatives
  • Liposomes
  • Solvents
  • Ovalbumin
  • Propofol