Microfluidics technology, a game-changer in the world of science, has reshaped our approach to microparticle synthesis. This fascinating field specializes in controlling and manipulating tiny amounts of fluids, typically at a scale a thousand times smaller than a millimeter. It’s comparable to the technology behind the inkjet printer but applied to the world of medicine and research, offering an unprecedented level of control and precision. This technology shines particularly bright in the creation of polymeric microparticles. While the underlying principle echoes traditional bulk emulsification techniques, microfluidics crafts droplets one at a time, ensuring each is formed under almost identical conditions. The result is a significant precise control over the size of the droplets, and subsequently, the particles.
Microfluidics Manufacturing: At the forefront of microfluidics applications, our lab has been instrumental in developing robust configurations and methodologies. By integrating microfluidics with data-driven workflow arrays, we’ve taken strides in the biocompatible polymer-based microparticle synthesis domain, enhancing the potential for improved patient outcomes in chronic disease treatment.
Long-acting Injectables: Our lab is a key contributor to the evolution of long-acting injectables (LAI), a crucial therapeutic tool. We engineer advanced drug-loaded polymeric microparticles using both PLGA and novel cross-linkable polyester materials, designed to protect and deliver therapeutic drugs in a sustained temporal pattern. The translation from bench to bedside presents challenges, largely due to the scarcity of biodegradable polymeric materials approved for use. However, we’re actively committed to overcoming these challenges, developing innovative biocompatible materials that will widen the possibilities for the application of LAI in treatment strategies.