PLGA Microparticle Production Pack (Automation Pack)

[O-SE-PLGAAP-PCK]

A complete system for automated production of monodisperse PLGA microparticles

The PLGA microparticle production pack is a robust, high-performance solution to generate polymer microparticles in a homogenous and fully controlled manner.

The performance brought by the RayDrop droplet generator, with the combination of Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) as an encapsulation polymer, and ethyl acetate as a solvent, provides a biocompatible solution lowering both hazard risk and precipitation time.

Suitable for biological applications, the RayDrop and the PLGA Microparticle Production Pack offer an automated solution for one of the most successful drug delivery systems in laboratories and clinics. The control and generation of droplets allow for highly monodisperse and continuous production compared to batch emulsion methods.

Therefore, the application of droplet-based microfluidics for the production of PLGA microparticles is a powerful tool that allows us to obtain particles with high monodispersity and stability.

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Main benefits

Repeatability
High monodispersity (2%)
Automated
Continuous production
Adaptable
Control on particle size

Features of PLGA Microparticle Production Pack

A complete system

With this package, you have all the components necessary to start generating PLGA microparticles.

An engineered solution

We built the package with the right pressure controllers, microfluidic chips, and valves to make sure you have the highest flexibility in terms of droplet size and generation rate.

A dedicated protocol

A protocol is available to assist you setting up and starting your experiments

Customization possible

We can adapt the package to fulfill your needs (droplet size, generation rate)

Related applications

Developed and manufactured by Secoya

How to produce droplets with our PLGA microparticle Production Pack?

In our Application Note (lien App Note), we demonstrate to you how the PLGA microparticle production pack creates excellent reproducibility and significantly improves monodispersity (CV < 2%) as compared to other methods on the market. It brings together all the benefits of pressure-based solutions and droplet microfluidics to focus on the experiment, and even offers the chance to automate protocols for producing different microparticle sizes.

Main products of the PLGA Microparticle Production Pack

Two different pressure controllers (Flow EZ) are used to handle fluids.

A 3/2 valve (2-SWITCH) is used to switch between pure ethyl acetate and PLGA dissolved in ethyl acetate and a second valve is also used in particle production output to switch between a waste and recover the sample.

Two Flow Unit sensors are used to monitor and control the internal and external phases flow rates during the run all.The RayDrop Single Emulsion is used to generate PLGA microparticles. It relies on the alignment of two glass capillaries inside a pressurized chamber. A 3D-printed micro-nozzle is additionally connected at the tip of the injection capillary, enforcing the dripping (fluids flow at low rates) of small droplets. This non-embedded design presents both the characteristics of a co-flow and a flow focusing, and is thereby called non-embedded co-flow focusing. The nozzle and outlet capillary are aligned in the continuous phase chamber, the dispersed phase comes through the nozzle to create the microparticles into the continuous phase and exit by the outlet insert.

Fig 1. PLGA Microparticle Production Pack Setup

droplet PLGA Microparticle Production Pack — *Fig 2. RayDrop Single Emulsion.*

Specifications

PARTICLE PRODUCTION

Dispersed phase	PLGA lactide: glycolide (75:25), mol wt 66,000-107,000
PLGA concentration used	2%, 5% ans 10%
Continuous phase	Ethyl acetate
Doplet size range	60µm to 120 µm
Particle size range	20µm to 50 µm
Production rate	Up to 60mg/h
Production frequency	U to 1000Hz
Monodisperity	2%

FLOW CONTROL

Pumps	Fluigent Flow EZ™ (2 bar)
Flow sensors	Fluigent FLOW UNIT (M and L)
Automated valves	Fluigent 2-SWITCH™

IMAGING

Microscope

Fluigent Digital high-speed microscope

OxyGEN

Control in real-time, protocol automation, data record and export

ver. 2.2.0.0 or more recent

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Imaging

Pixelink Capture Software

	Traditional methods (Batch methods)	Fluigent PLGA microparticle production station
Particle size distribution	~20%	~2%
Reproducibility	Low	High
API mixing	Uneven	Uniform
Live particle size control	No	Precise
Continuous / In line production	No	Yes
	Microfluidic methods available on the market	Fluigent PLGA microparticle production station
Particle size distribution	~5%	~2%
Semi automated production	No	Yes
Ethyl acetate dedicated protocol	No	Yes
Device regeneration	No (glass chip changed when clogged)	Yes (the RayDrop can be maintained)
Connectors	Non standard, user dependant quality (leakage, blockage)	Standard fittings for better sealing

Can I use a polymer other than PLGA?

The method has been designed for PLGA. Changing polymers may change the physical fluid properties and lead to different results.

How can I prevent the clogging from PLGA?

Follow the procedure detailed in the application note. Please note the priming and cleaning procedures.

The nozzle (or capillary) sems clogged with PLGA. How can I fix it?

If the usual cleaning procedures from the good practice guide cannot unclog the nozzle, contact customer support for help.

Some of the ethyl acetate has flowed into the continuous phase chamber. What should I do?

If some ethylacetate without PLGA has flowed into the chamber it can be flushed out easily.

Follow the instructions in the good practice guide.

I can see a drop of ethlacetate fixed on the outside of the nozzle. How can I get ride of it?

If some ethylacetate without PLGA is fixed around the nozzle, it can be easily flushed out.

Follow the instructions in the good practice guide.

Some of the PLGA solution has flowed into the chamber. What shoulg I do?

If some PLGA gets into the chamber, it has to be eliminated quickly.

Refer to the good practice guide for the exact procedure.

Air bubbles regularly appear during the experiment. What should I do?

If air bubbles appear during experiment we advise one to switch to the ethyl acetate solution (if you are in the PLGA configuration) and let it flow for a minute to remove all PLGA from the system.

PLGA Microparticle Production Pack (Automation Pack)