Student: Rex Moore
Project Mentors: Dr. Brent Vernon – SBHSE
Dr. Derek Overstreet – Sonoran Biosciences Inc. & SBHSE
Dr. Vincent Pizziconi – SBHSE
YouTube Link: View the video link below before joining the zoom meeting
Zoom Link: https://asu.zoom.us/j/95743224758
Zoom meeting time: 9am - 11am
Abstract
The focus of this project was to test and characterize a novel polymer microsphere fabrication device that was developed last year as part of the capstone process. The microsphere fabrication device is derived from microfluidic and emulsion principles to create poly(lactic-co-glycolic- acid) (PLGA) microspheres that are designed to be utilized for the local, sustained delivery of drugs. The novel microsphere fabrication device was designed to improve upon the current fabrication methods utilized by researchers and pharmaceutical companies. Most current polymer microsphere fabrication processes either produce low throughputs or large size distributions with a high polydispersity index (PDI). The novel microsphere fabrication device is designed to produce consistently sized particle batches with an increased throughput when compared to other current fabrication methods.
The novel microparticle fabrication device was tested and characterized through the use of a three factor Box-Wilson central composite response surface design of experiment (DOE). The three factors that were tested during the DOE were the flow rate of the surfactant and polymer as well as the length of tubing utilized in the system. Each factor was tested at a four different level plus an additional level that accounted for the center point of the system. The levels of the factors were determined based on previous preliminary testing. The PLGA microparticles were analyzed for the mean size and PDI of each particle batch. The goal of the DOE was to be able to make consistently sized microspheres with a low PDI while also being able to produce different mean sizes depending on the values chosen for the different factors tested.