Transport characteristics of nanoparticle-based ferrofluids in a gel model of the brain

A current advance in nanotechnology is the selective targeting of therapeutics by external magnetic field-guided delivery. This is an important area of research in medicine. The use of magnetic forces results in the formation of agglomerated structures in the field region. The transport characteristics of these agglomerated structures are explored. A nonintrusive method based on in situ light-scattering techniques is used to characterize the velocity of such particles in a magnetic field gradient. A transport model for the chain-like agglomerates is developed based on these experimental observations. The transport characteristics of magnetic nanoparticle drug carriers are then explored in gel-based simulated models of the brain. Results of such measurements demonstrate decreased diffusion of magnetic nanoparticles when placed in a high magnetic field gradient

Design and packaging of microreactors for high pressure and high temperature applications

The development of chemically compatible microsystems that can operate across expanded process conditions, such as high pressures (HP) and high temperatures (HT), is of great interest for many applications, including high pressure chemistry and hydrothermal and supercritical fluid processes. We present a methodology for the successful design and use of HP/HT microsystems. Key parameters for the fabrication of microreactors and modular fluidic packaging able to withstand severe pressure and temperature conditions (30 MPa, 400 °C) are described. Applications of these HP/HT plug and play microsystems are illustrated with examples, including multiphase flow visualization through the transition of liquid−liquid immiscible hexane−water segmented flow to homogeneous supercritical flow, on chip supercritical water oxidation, and synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles

Development of a Multi-Step Synthesis and Workup Sequence for an Integrated, Continuous Manufacturing Process of a Pharmaceutical

The development and operation of the synthesis and workup steps of a fully integrated, continuous manufacturing plant for synthesizing aliskiren, a small molecule pharmaceutical, are presented. The plant started with advanced intermediates, two synthetic steps away from the final active pharmaceutical ingredient, and ended with finished tablets. The entire process was run on several occasions, with the data presented herein corresponding to a 240 h run at a nominal throughput of 41 g h^–1 of aliskiren. The first reaction was performed solvent-free in a molten condition at a high temperature, achieving high yields (90%) and avoiding solid handling and a long residence time (due to higher concentrations compared to dilute conditions when run at lower temperatures in a solvent). The resulting stream was worked-up inline using liquid–liquid extraction with membrane-based separators that were scaled-up from microfluidic designs. The second reaction involved a Boc deprotection, using aqueous HCl that was rapidly quenched with aqueous NaOH using an inline pH measurement to control NaOH addition. The reaction maintained high yields (90–95%) under closed-loop control despite process disturbances

Development of a Multi-Step Synthesis and Workup Sequence for an Integrated, Continuous Manufacturing Process of a Pharmaceutical

The development and operation of the synthesis and workup steps of a fully integrated, continuous manufacturing plant for synthesizing aliskiren, a small molecule pharmaceutical, are presented. The plant started with advanced intermediates, two synthetic steps away from the final active pharmaceutical ingredient, and ended with finished tablets. The entire process was run on several occasions, with the data presented herein corresponding to a 240 h run at a nominal throughput of 41 g h[superscript –1] of aliskiren. The first reaction was performed solvent-free in a molten condition at a high temperature, achieving high yields (90%) and avoiding solid handling and a long residence time (due to higher concentrations compared to dilute conditions when run at lower temperatures in a solvent). The resulting stream was worked-up inline using liquid–liquid extraction with membrane-based separators that were scaled-up from microfluidic designs. The second reaction involved a Boc deprotection, using aqueous HCl that was rapidly quenched with aqueous NaOH using an inline pH measurement to control NaOH addition. The reaction maintained high yields (90–95%) under closed-loop control despite process disturbances.Novartis (Firm