The NanoAssemblr™ platform: Novel nanoparticle engineering for delivery of the genetic toolbox

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Andrea L Armstead

Precision Nanosystems, Inc., Canada

: J Pharm Drug Deliv Res

Abstract

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Conventional methods used to produce nanomedicines have several challenges such as batch-to-batch reproducibility and difficulty scaling from the research bench to clinical batch volumes. Additionally, these methods are labor intensive and the compositional scope of the nanomedicines produced is limited. Our NanoAssemblr™ platform technology provides an alternative, automated, microfluidics-based approach for nanoparticle manufacture which solves challenges associated with conventional methods and enables rapid, reproducible and scalable formulation of a variety of nanomedicines. Here, we will describe the microfluidic platform and its applications in the development of a variety of nanoparticle (NP) formulations, including liposomes, dense-core lipid NP (LNP) and polymeric NP for drug delivery applications. The strategies used to tune physical attributes (size, encapsulation efficiency) and to scale the manufacture of NP at μL to 10s of L will be discussed. A case study detailing the mechanism of LNP-mediated nucleic acid delivery into primary neurons for in vitro and in vivo genetic studies will be presented.

Biography

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Andrea L Armstead has obtained her PhD in Pharmaceutical & Pharmacological Science from the West Virignia School of Pharmacy and a BS in Biochemistry from Washburn University. She has expertise in nanoparticle toxicology and relevant background in nanoparticle drug delivery and formulation with relevant publications in journals such as PloSOne, Toxicology & Applied Pharmacology and the International Journal of Nanomedicine. She has been working in biotechnology industry after completing her PhD and is currently the East Coast Regional Field Applications Scientist for Precision Nanosystems, Inc.

Email: aarmstead@precision-nano.com