MIT engineers have developed a novel microfluidic device that streamlines the production of drug-carrying nanoparticles, significantly enhancing the efficiency and scalability of this process. Traditionally, creating these nanoparticles involved a meticulous layer-by-layer assembly, where each polymer layer required individual application and purification, making large-scale production challenging. The new device automates this layering process by allowing nanoparticles to flow through microchannels, where successive polymer layers are added seamlessly. This innovation not only accelerates production but also ensures compliance with stringent FDA manufacturing standards, facilitating the potential for broader clinical applications.
In practical terms, this advancement enables the production of approximately 15 milligrams of nanoparticles—equivalent to around 50 doses—in just a few minutes, a substantial improvement over previous methods. The researchers demonstrated the device’s efficacy by producing nanoparticles loaded with interleukin-12 (IL-12), an immune-activating protein known to impede ovarian tumor growth in mice. These nanoparticles effectively adhered to tumor sites, enhancing the immune response without penetrating the cancer cells, thereby reducing potential side effects. This scalable manufacturing technique holds promise not only for ovarian cancer treatment but also for other cancers, such as glioblastoma, marking a significant step forward in targeted cancer therapy. Click for More Details
