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Influence of micro-mixing on the size of liposomes self-assembled from miscible liquid phases

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Title Influence of micro-mixing on the size of liposomes self-assembled from miscible liquid phases
 
Creator PHAPAL, SM
SUNTHAR, P
 
Subject Liposome synthesis
Coacervation
Ethanol injection
Microfluidics
Hydrodynamic stability
LIPID-BILAYERS
INJECTION METHOD
VESICLES
STABILITY
MIXTURES
WATER
PERMEABILITY
MEMBRANES
DELIVERY
DRUGS
 
Description Ethanol injection and variations of it are a class of methods where two miscible phases-one of which contains dissolved lipids-are mixed together leading to the self-assembly of lipid molecules to form liposomes. This method has been suggested, among other applications, for in situ synthesis of liposomes as drug delivery capsules. However, the mechanism that leads to a specific size selection of the liposomes in solution based self-assembly in general, and in flow-focussing microfluidic devices in particular, has so far not been established. Here we report two aspects of this problem. A simple and easily fabricated device for the synthesis of monodisperse unilamellar liposomes in a co-axial flow-focussing microfluidic geometry is presented. We also show that the size of liposomes is dependent on the extent of micro-convective mixing of the two miscible phases. Here, a viscosity stratification induced hydrodynamic instability leads to a gentle micro-mixing which results in larger liposome size than when the streams are mixed turbulently. The results are in sharp contrast to a purely diffusive mixing in macroscopic laminar flow that was believed to occur under these conditions. Further precise quantification of the mixing characteristics should provide the insights to develop a general theory for size selection for the class of ethanol injection methods. This will also lay grounds for obtaining empirical evidence that will enable better control of liposome sizes and for designing drug encapsulation and delivery devices. (c) 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
 
Publisher ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD
 
Date 2014-10-15T13:02:30Z
2014-10-15T13:02:30Z
2013
 
Type Article
 
Identifier CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS OF LIPIDS, 17220-30
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chemphyslip.2013.04.006
http://dspace.library.iitb.ac.in/jspui/handle/100/14954
 
Language en