A microfluidic origami chip for synthesis of functionalized polymeric nanoparticles

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Achieving uniform, ~100 nm nanoparticles for optimal drug delivery is challenging with current methods.
• Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles are promising for drug delivery but require precise size control.
• Doxorubicin-loaded nanoparticles are crucial for effective cancer therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a microfluidic origami chip for synthesizing monodisperse nanoparticles.
• To fabricate doxorubicin-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles with optimized ~100 nm diameters.
• To provide an accessible method for producing nanoparticles in this critical size range.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a three-dimensional microfluidic origami chip design.
• Synthesized monodisperse poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles.
• Loaded nanoparticles with doxorubicin.

Main Results:

• Successfully fabricated monodisperse nanoparticles with an average diameter of approximately 100 nm.
• Demonstrated the capability of the microfluidic chip to produce nanoparticles optimized for cellular uptake.
• Achieved efficient doxorubicin loading within the synthesized nanoparticles.

Conclusions:

• The microfluidic origami chip offers a simplified and effective approach for synthesizing ~100 nm doxorubicin-loaded PLGA nanoparticles.
• This technology facilitates the production of nanoparticles with sizes ideal for anticancer efficacy.
• The 3D microchannel design presents a promising platform for facile nanoparticle fabrication.