Tech Spotlight: Improved Drug Delivery Using Electrostatic Co-extrusion Techniques

A research group led by Thomas Anchordoquy has developed an electrostatic co-extrusion manufacturing process for production of liposomes. The process utilizes electrostatic spraying (Electro-Hydrodynamic breakup) to form an aqueous droplet while another miscible fluid containing the encapsulating material (“shell”) is simultaneously extruded around the aqueous droplet. In this manner, encapsulated vesicles are produced individually with 100% encapsulation efficiency.

Liposome encapsulation, used primarily to manufacture new drugs and drug delivery systems, represents the most immediate and potentially significant application for this technology. Encapsulation is also used in a variety of well-known applications such as scratch-and-sniff perfumes, carbonless copy paper, laundry detergent, and packaged baking mixes. This method is also ideally suited for these applications as it may be used to encapsulate any water-soluble substance within a variety of materials.

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