Work

Preparation of liposomes, lipid nanoparticles, or polymer nanoparticles by nanoprecipitation and their purification: Where are membrane processes?

Year: 2025

Type: review

Abstract: Nanoprecipitation is a key method to prepare colloids such as liposomes, lipid and polymer nanoparticles. Obtaining a final formulation requires three main steps, the first one consists in mixing the aqueous and organic phases, the solute to be precipitated being added to one of the two phases, according to its solubility. In a second step, the colloidal suspension obtained is concentrated and diafiltrated with an appropriate buffer to remove the solvent required for nanoprecipitation. The last step is sterilization of the resulting concentrated and diafiltrated colloidal suspension. Membrane processes can be used during the three stages. First, a membrane is an option for mixing both phases, although classical micromixers are generally preferred. Tangential flow filtration is used for concentration and diafiltration of the colloidal suspension obtained by nanoprecipitation. Finally, sterile filtration removes potential contaminants before the final use of the colloidal suspension in the delivery of active principle(s). In the following, principles and applications of these three membrane processes are presented and their advantages, limits and some perspectives are discussed.

Source: Current Opinion in Colloid & Interface Science

DOI: 10.1016/j.cocis.2025.101989

Authors: Laurie Trémouille, Catherine Charcosset

Institutions: Lyon 1 Université, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Laboratoire d'Automatique, de Génie des Procédés et de Génie Pharmaceutique

Language: English

Topic: Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery

Subfield: Biomaterials

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,210

Funder: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique