By AZoNano
Table of Contents
Introduction
Advantages of Nanoformulation
Nanoformulation Technology
The Nanoformulation Process
About Nanocopoeia
Introduction
A number of challenges are faced by pharmaceutical companies in
maintaining and developing drug therapies, which include:
- Improvement of drug effectiveness lost to insolubility; and
- Extension of the life on an existing drug as the patent nears
expiration. For example, it is estimated that 40-50 percent of
potentially useful compounds emerging from the drug discovery process
are not soluble in water, and thus "wasted." Also, companies face
pressure to develop new formulations to extend the market life of
existing branded drugs as generic forms enter the market.
Nanoformulation
successfully addresses both these challenges that involves formulating
compounds into nanoscale materials.
Advantages of Nanoformulation
The creation of drug nanoparticles, also known as nanoformulation,
drastically increases surface area, hence making substances more
soluble, bioavailable, effective and efficient. This enables the rescue
of compounds that are otherwise discarded.
Futhermore, nanoformulation can also improve drug performance
by speeding onset of action—enabling alternative delivery routes such
as across the skin or mucous membranes, or even targeting specific
tissues.
Nanoformulation Technology
Nanocopoeia's
proprietary ElectroNanospray (ENS) formulation technology
produces accurate and ultra-pure nanoparticles in an innovative
one-step process. The processes of competitors are inherently limited
in their ability to produce constantly pure particles within a
specified size range and distribution or to produce coated particles.
With ENS, precision particle sizes can be designed to
suit the specific application needs from 20-200 nm. Additionally, the
device is capable of applying a coating to the particles in a
single-process step that produces a drug-loaded core operating at
ambient temperature and pressure.
The Nanoformulation Process
Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a single spray functional unit of
the nanoparticle generator. The capillary tips can be massed in
accurate configurations to obtain high throughput operation.
Figure 1. Schematic of the ElectroNanospray
spray unit
About Nanocopoeia
Built on a foundation of revolutionary intellectual property, Nanocopoeia
has grown into a major nanotechnology player in just 10 years. With
beginnings at the University of Minnesota dating back to 2001, the
company formally began operations in late 2003 after obtaining
worldwide exclusive rights to the patent portfolio developed by Drs.
David Pui and Da-Ren Chen. The core patents obtained from the
University of Minnesota cover the use of ElectroNanospray™
to create nanoparticles out of virtually any material that can be put
into solution or suspension. That patent estate has undergone continual
updating and enhancing to broaden Nanocopoeia's
claims both through the University and by the company during its
operation.
This information has been sourced, reviewed and
adapted from materials provided by Nanocopoeia.
For more information on this source, please visit Nanocopoeia.