Fast and reliable analysis of pH-responsive nanocarriers for drug delivery using microfluidic tools

• Published in: International journal of pharmaceutics Vol. 643; p. 123232
• Main Authors: García-Merino, Belén, Bringas, Eugenio, Ortiz, Inmaculada
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 25-08-2023
• Subjects: Dye release; Ibuprofen release; In vitro screening; Microfluidic platform; pH-responsive nanocarriers; Ibuprofen release; Microfluidic platform; pH-responsive nanocarriers; Dye release; In vitro screening
• ISSN: 0378-5173; 1873-3476
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2023.123232

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•Novel microfluidic platform to screen the performance of functional nanocarriers.•Amino-MCM-41 particles were selected as model functional nanocarriers.•The dye release of Ru(bipy)32+ and ibuprofen were assessed as case of study.•Gastrointestinal conditions were mimicked in terms of pH, time and temperature.•The obtained delivery results prove the advantages of the proposed microfluidic system.
During the last decades, there has been growing interest in the application of functionalized mesoporous nanomaterials as stimuli-responsive carriers for drug delivery. However, at present there is not a standardized methodology to evaluate their performance. The limitations of the different techniques reported in literature give rise to the necessity for new, simple, and cost-effective alternatives. This work constitutes a step forward in the development of advanced in vitro procedures for testing the behavior of nanocarriers, proposing a novel microfluidic platform. To test the capacity of the reported tool, the performance of amino-functionalized MCM-41 nanoparticles has been assessed. These materials show a pH-responsive mechanism, which prevents the drug release at acidic conditions, maximizing its distribution at neutral pH, thus, the selected release medium mimicked gastrointestinal conditions. As a first approximation, the delivery of Ru(bipy)32+ was evaluated, proving the advantages of the proposed microfluidic system: i) continuous flow of particles and media, ii) rigorous control of the residence time, temperature and pH, iii) enhanced mixing, iv) possibility to simulate different human body conditions and, v) possible integration with the continuous synthesis of nanocarriers. Finally, the microfluidic tool was used to analyze the delivery of the anti-inflammatory drug ibuprofen.