Formulation & Drug Delivery Services
The core offers free initial consultation to investigators facing drug delivery and formulation challenges in their work. We provide help with conventional formulation strategies, such as solubilization of poorly soluble drugs, all the way to advanced drug and RNA delivery approaches using nanoparticles, micelles, lipid nanoparticles (LNP), liposomes, and polymeric prodrugs.
Contact core manager for the pricing and inquiries about GLP capabilities for selected services.
Drug solubilizationWe offer the use of conventional strategies to solubilize poorly soluble drugs (BCS Class II and IV), including drug particle size reduction, cyclodextrin complexation, solid dispersions, micellization and emulsification.
Drug and RNA formulation using micelles, lipid nanoparticles, polymer nanoparticles, and liposomes.
We offer expertise and practical capabilities in the preparation of drug- and RNA-encapsulated systems using a range of techniques, including microfluidic assembly (Cytiva NanoAssemblr Ignite), ultrasonication (Hielscher UP200St sonicator), and nanoprecipitation.
Development and testing of inhalation formulations and drug delivery systems
Nose-only directed-flow rodent inhalation exposure tower from CH Technology is available for the development and testing of inhaled pharmaceutical formulations. Our system consists of the exposure tower, aerosol spectrometer to measure aerosol sizes, Blaustein Atomizer (BLAM) Single-Jet Model liquid aerosol generator, and the Vilnius Aerosol Generator (VAG) dry powder dispenser. The modular setup has stackable exposure modules plus top and bottom sections or plates for introduction and exhaust of test article. Each module has 12 exposure ports, which can be used for exposing up to 12 animals or taking representative samples.
BLAM is a high output jet nebulizer that allows efficient generation of aerosols at high particle concentrations and narrow particle size distribution. BLAM was specifically designed for generation of bioaerosols with enhanced bioavailability of microorganisms and sensitive biological materials. The VAG is a general-purpose dry powder disperser that produces aerosol concentrations from 1 to 2500 mg/m3 and provides exceptional de-agglomeration characteristics.
Spray drying
Using Buchi B-90 HP spray dryer with a piezoelectric spray head capable of producing particles in the range of 0.2-5 µm with yields up to 90%. Gentle solvent evaporation and ability to process small volumes (< 2 mL) of samples quickly.
- $25/h when used by trained independent UNMC, VAMC, UNO, UNL, or UNK users.
- $40/h when run by the PFDC core staff.
External academic and corporate rates are available. Contact core manager for current prices.
Drying of heat-sensitive samples using lyophilization (freeze drying)Labconco freeze dryer designed to handle research and pilot plant scale lyophilization.
- $40/run