Description:
Flash NanoPrecipitation for Preparing High Capacity Nanoparticles
Princeton Docket # 20-3636
Researchers in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Princeton University have developed a new Flash NanoPrecipitation process, to form nanoparticles with high loadings. The new process, synthesizes nanoparticles with core loadings as high as 95%, with high homogeneity and minimal stabilizer trapping. These high capacity nanoparticles still retain durability for long term storage. Previously, Flash NanoPrecipitation allowed access to particle sizes from 1 µm to 80 nm, the new process allows access to 5 µm to 10 nm particle size. The new process uses confined impinging jets mixers, this process maintains high throughput and rapid particle synthesis. This process has led to the successful encapsulation of fluorescent dyes, drugs, and inorganic compounds within biocompatible nanoparticles in a controlled fashion.
Applications
-Create targeted nanoparticles for diagnostics, drug delivery, and tracking disease progression
-Enhanced pharmaceutical delivery, dye preparation, and pesticide formulation
-Formulation of drug cocktails
Advantages
-High Core Loading up to 95% w/w
-Tunable, narrow submicron particle size distribution with a mean diameter range from 5 um to 10 nm
-Nanoparticles retain long-term storage stability
Intellectual Property & Development Status
Patent protection is pending.
Princeton is currently seeking commercial partners for the further development and commercialization of this opportunity.
Publications
Manuscript in preparation.
The Inventors
Robert K. Prud’homme is a Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering and the Director of the Program in Engineering Biology at Princeton University. His research focuses on how weak forces at the molecular level determine macroscopic properties at larger length scales. Equal time is spent understanding the details of molecular-level interactions using NMR, neutron scattering, x-ray scattering, or electron microscopy and making measurements of bulk properties such as rheology, diffusion of proteins in gels, drop sizes of sprays, or pressure drop measurements in porous media. A major focus of his lab’s research is on using self-assembly to construct nanoparticles for drug delivery and imaging. His work is highly interdisciplinary; many of the projects involve joint advisors and collaborations with researchers at NIH, Argonne National Labs, CNRS in France, or major corporate research.
Leon Wang is a doctoral candidate in the Chemical and Biological Engineering department at Princeton University. Originally born in China, Leon grew up in Minnesota before obtaining his bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Michigan. At Princeton, his research involves using nanoparticles to stabilize malaria drugs for use in hot and humid climates. Leon is also working to develop nanoparticle contrast agents to improve medical imaging technologies for earlier cancer diagnostics.
Kurt Ristroph is a doctoral candidate in the department of Chemical and Biological Engineering. He was awarded National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship and his research focuses on polymeric nanoparticles for improved drug bioavailability, drug targeting, imaging, mucus penetration, and antimicrobial peptide delivery.
Contact
Laurie Tzodikov
tzodikov@princeton.edu
Princeton University Office of Technology Licensing
(609) 258-7256
Daniel Sanchez
danielrs@princeton.edu
Princeton University Office of Technology Licensing
(609) 258-7256