Project Details
Projekt
FOR 856: Microsystems for Particulate Life-Science-Products (mikropart)
Subject Area
Thermal Engineering/Process Engineering
Computer Science, Systems and Electrical Engineering
Medicine
Computer Science, Systems and Electrical Engineering
Medicine
Term
from 2007 to 2017
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 33442432
While microsystems due to their size-specific properties (such as high mass and heat transfer, short mixing time etc.) are on the rise for processes with pure liquids only few processes with particle loaded streams were realised in microsystems because of the risk of deposition, plugging and abrasion. The Research Unit would like to address these problems. As model systems two complex Microsystems, which are applied in the field of life-science were chosen: a microbioreactor as well as a microsystem for the production of active agent loaded lipid nanoparticles.
The most beneficial parameters for cultivation of microorganisms in a big bioreactor are supposed to be determined with the help of parallel working microbioreactors. Challenges are to keep the cells from leaving the microsystems, to control nutrient and oxygen supply and to measure the fluid and particle streams with the help of micro particle image velocimetry.
For production of active agent loaded lipid nanoparticles the lipid phase has to be mixed with the reactive agents, dispersed and pre-emulsified with the water phase. This step is followed by the actual emulsification of the reactive agent loaded lipid phase into drops in nanometre range. Subsequently, these drops are cooled down and crystallised to lipid nanoparticles. The micro system is supposed to allow an extensive screening of all kinds of reactive agents and formulations with low material and manpower requirements.
The realisation of the project is based on the interdisciplinary composition of the participating working groups. The following institutions of the Technical University of Braunschweig are involved in the Research Unit: microtechnology (development of the production process and construction of the microsystems), surface technology (minimisation of sedimentation and abrasion through surface modifications), biological engineering (design and sensor technology of the bioreactor), particle technology (design and analysis of microstructures for dispersion and homogenisation), pharmaceutical technology (homogenisation and formulation of lipid nanoparticles), fluid mechanics (micro particle image velocimetry and flow simulation) and computer applications in construction engineering (flow simulation).
The most beneficial parameters for cultivation of microorganisms in a big bioreactor are supposed to be determined with the help of parallel working microbioreactors. Challenges are to keep the cells from leaving the microsystems, to control nutrient and oxygen supply and to measure the fluid and particle streams with the help of micro particle image velocimetry.
For production of active agent loaded lipid nanoparticles the lipid phase has to be mixed with the reactive agents, dispersed and pre-emulsified with the water phase. This step is followed by the actual emulsification of the reactive agent loaded lipid phase into drops in nanometre range. Subsequently, these drops are cooled down and crystallised to lipid nanoparticles. The micro system is supposed to allow an extensive screening of all kinds of reactive agents and formulations with low material and manpower requirements.
The realisation of the project is based on the interdisciplinary composition of the participating working groups. The following institutions of the Technical University of Braunschweig are involved in the Research Unit: microtechnology (development of the production process and construction of the microsystems), surface technology (minimisation of sedimentation and abrasion through surface modifications), biological engineering (design and sensor technology of the bioreactor), particle technology (design and analysis of microstructures for dispersion and homogenisation), pharmaceutical technology (homogenisation and formulation of lipid nanoparticles), fluid mechanics (micro particle image velocimetry and flow simulation) and computer applications in construction engineering (flow simulation).
DFG Programme
Research Units
Projects
- Entwicklung eines Mikroreaktorsystems als Screening-Instrument für biologische Systeme (Applicant Krull, Rainer )
- Entwicklung und Herstellung von Mikrosystemen für partikuläre Life-Science-Produkte (Applicant Büttgenbach, Stephanus )
- Funktion und Stabilität von Polyelektrolyt-Multilayerschichten in Mikrosystemen (Applicant Klages, Claus-Peter )
- Mechanismen der Ablagerung und Abtragung von Partikeln bei der Strömung disperser Systeme in Mikrokanälen (Applicant Scholl, Stephan )
- Mikrokomponenten zur Dispergierung (Applicant Kwade, Arno )
- Numerische Strömungssimulation für Dispergierkanäle und Mikrobioreaktoren (Applicants Geier, Martin Christian ; Radespiel, Rolf )
- Untersuchung von Mikrosystemen zur Herstellung nanoskaliger Arzneistoff-Trägersysteme (Applicant Müller-Goymann, Christel )
- Volumetrische Impuls- und Temperaturfeldmessungen mit Zeitauflösung in Mikrosystemen (Applicant Kähler, Christian Joachim )
- Zentrale Dienstleistungen (Applicant Kwade, Arno )
Spokesperson
Professor Dr.-Ing. Arno Kwade
