Preparation of Drug Nanoparticles Using a T-Junction Microchannel System.

Cefuroxime axetil (CFA) drug nanoparticles were prepared by liquid antisolvent precipitation in a microchannel system with a T-shaped junction formed by a main microchannel and a branch. Isopropyl ether as the antisolvent (high flow rate) was usually passed through the main microchannel, and CFA acetone solution as the solvent (low flow rate) was injected into the branch simultaneously. The solvent diffused from the CFA acetone solution stream into the antisolvent phase, which resulted in the supersaturation of CFA and thus led to the rapid precipitation of CFA nanoparticles. The change of the injection phase from CFA acetone solution to isopropyl ether was found to have a significant effect on the formation of CFA nanoparticles owing to the different contact behavior. The morphology and size of CFA nanoparticles were characterized by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and particle size distribution (PSD) measurements by laser diffractometry. Furthermore, the effects of CFA acetone solution velocity, antisolvent velocity, overall velocity, and CFA concentration on the particle size and size distribution were experimentally investigated. The as-prepared CFA nanoparticles were amorphous and exhibited a higher dissolution rate than raw CFA. This work suggests that microfluidics might find wide applications in the development and optimization of drug nanoparticles in the newly emerging field of nanomedicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]