Single step reconstitution of multifunctional high-density lipoprotein-derived nanomaterials using microfluidics

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Nanotechnology
• Cardiovascular Science

Background:

• High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is a natural nanoparticle crucial for cholesterol transport.
• Reconstituted HDL (rHDL) shows promise for treating cardiovascular diseases and as a platform for targeted delivery.
• Current rHDL synthesis methods are slow, difficult to scale, and lack reproducibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a scalable, efficient, and reproducible method for synthesizing HDL-mimicking nanomaterials.
• To create a versatile nanoparticle platform for drug delivery and medical imaging.

Main Methods:

• A microfluidics-based approach was employed for the single-step synthesis of HDL-mimicking nanomaterials (μHDL).
• Characterization of μHDL properties, including size, morphology, and bioactivity, was performed.
• Incorporation of hydrophobic drugs (simvastatin) and imaging agents (gold, iron oxide, quantum dots, fluorophores) into μHDL was achieved.

Main Results:

• The microfluidics method successfully produced μHDL with properties comparable to native and conventionally reconstituted HDL.
• Simvastatin was effectively incorporated into the μHDL nanoparticles.
• Various imaging agents were successfully integrated, enabling detection via CT, MRI, and fluorescence microscopy.

Conclusions:

• Microfluidics-based synthesis offers a scalable and efficient method for producing homogeneous HDL-mimicking nanomaterials.
• Functionalized μHDL nanoparticles demonstrate potential for advanced drug delivery and multimodal medical imaging.
• This approach facilitates the development and optimization of lipoprotein-based nanomaterials for clinical applications.