Fluid droplet processing gets an update with SMART's latest approach revealed
In a groundbreaking development, researchers from the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) and the National University of Singapore (NUS) have created a unique method for generating and processing fluid droplets under previously unattainable conditions. This new approach, explained in a paper titled "Embedded droplet printing in yield-stress fluids," published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, could be a game changer in a range of scientific experimentation.
The project, part of the National Research Foundation's Intra-CREATE Collaborative Grant, was led by Arif Zainuddin Nelson, a researcher under SMART. The new microfluidic process enables a high throughput of small and precise volumes of reagents, making it particularly useful for designing high potency medicine that needs to be taken in very small doses, such as drugs taken by cancer patients.
The embedded droplet printing method can also be used to alter the size and dosage of existing drugs. This could lead to more tailored medicine, as it would make it easier to develop small batches of specialized drugs for specific patients.
One of the key advantages of this new process is its ability to improve the environment for chemical reactions by removing solid boundaries. This avoids malformations that are common in conventional methods, which produce particles that are ovoid in shape and result in poor flowability during manufacturing of medicines.
Another significant application of the new process is in antibiotic testing. Bacteria colonies can be cultured within individual droplets, and different antibiotics and dosages can be tested on each droplet. The new method is the first of its kind to take advantage of yield-stress fluids to create the ideal conditions for experimentation, processing, or observation of various samples.
The new process could also simulate infections for antibiotic testing, making it a valuable tool in the fight against antibiotic resistance.
SMART, established by MIT and the National Research Foundation of Singapore in 2007, serves as an intellectual and innovation hub for research interactions between MIT and Singapore. The generality and wide impact of the new microfluidic process couldn't have been achieved without SMART and NUS working together.
According to MIT Professor Patrick Doyle, the new process could be a game changer in a range of scientific experimentation. Using the embedded droplet printing approach, the research team was able to produce suspended and perfectly spherical drug-laden particles.
This development is a testament to the collaborative spirit and innovative research that SMART and NUS are known for, and it promises to open up new possibilities in the field of microfluidics and pharmaceutical research.
Read also:
- Understanding Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis: Key Facts
- Stopping Osteoporosis Treatment: Timeline Considerations
- Tobacco industry's suggested changes on a legislative modification are disregarded by health journalists
- Expanded Community Health Involvement by CK Birla Hospitals, Jaipur, Maintained Through Consistent Outreach Programs Across Rajasthan
