APPLICATIONS
Microfluidics for Nanoparticle Synthesis (Including LNPs)
Microfluidics has become the standard way to make uniform nanoparticles — including the lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) that deliver mRNA vaccines. The secret is fast, reproducible mixing. Here is how it works.
Why microfluidics for nanoparticles?
Many nanoparticles form by rapid mixing of two streams (for LNPs, a lipid-in-ethanol stream and an aqueous stream). How fast and uniformly they mix sets the particle size and consistency. Microfluidic micromixers give fast, controlled, repeatable mixing — so every batch is the same.
How it works
In a microfluidic mixer, the two streams are folded together over very short distances (see diffusion mixing), triggering rapid nanoprecipitation or self-assembly into nanoparticles. Adjusting flow rates and the flow-rate ratio tunes particle size precisely.
Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs)
LNPs encapsulate fragile mRNA and other nucleic acids for delivery. Microfluidic mixing produces small, uniform, high-encapsulation LNPs reproducibly — a key reason the technique is central to mRNA medicine.
From bench to manufacturing
A major advantage is scalability: the same mixing conditions can be reproduced from screening to production by parallelising channels, avoiding the reformulation that plagues batch methods. Chips are made in chemically compatible materials — see our materials guide and services.
Frequently asked questions
How does microfluidics make nanoparticles?
By rapidly and reproducibly mixing reactant streams in a microchannel, triggering controlled nanoprecipitation or self-assembly into uniform nanoparticles whose size is tuned by flow conditions.
Why are lipid nanoparticles made with microfluidics?
Microfluidic mixing produces small, uniform, high-encapsulation LNPs reproducibly and scalably, which is essential for delivering mRNA and other nucleic-acid therapeutics.
Can microfluidic nanoparticle synthesis be scaled up?
Yes — the same mixing conditions are reproduced at larger throughput by parallelising channels, so a formulation developed at small scale transfers to production without reformulation.
Uniform particles, every batch
Formulating nanoparticles or LNPs?
We make chemically compatible mixing chips that scale from screening to production. Upload a design for a quote, or book a call.
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