Continuous production of celecoxib nanoparticles using a three-dimensional-coaxial-flow microfluidic platform

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Technology
• Nanotechnology
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Decreasing drug particle size to the nanoscale enhances dissolution rates for poorly soluble drugs.
• Uniform nanoparticle production is crucial for the clinical success of this strategy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a continuous, scalable method for producing uniform celecoxib nanoparticles.
• To evaluate the dissolution rate and bioavailability of the produced nanoparticles.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a 3D coaxial-flow microfluidic device using glass capillaries.
• Preparation of celecoxib nanoparticles via microfluidic mixing under turbulent jet conditions.
• Characterization of nanoparticle size, shape, and dissolution properties.

Main Results:

• The microfluidic device enabled high-throughput, continuous production of uniform celecoxib nanoparticles.
• Nanoparticles exhibited spherical morphology and significantly improved dissolution rates compared to coarse powders.
• Improved bioavailability was observed due to particle size reduction.

Conclusions:

• A simple microfluidic method provides a viable approach for continuous nanoparticle production.
• This technique offers enhanced dissolution and bioavailability for water-insoluble drugs like celecoxib.
• The method holds promise for scalable pharmaceutical manufacturing of nanoformulations.