Nanosizing increases the specific surface of drug particles, leading to faster dissolution inside the organism and improving the bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs. A novel approach for the preparation of drug nanoparticles in water using chemically inert microfluidic emulsification devices is presented.

Automated biomimetic systems for the preclinical testing of drugs are of great interest. Here, an in vitro testing platform for in vivo adapted drug absorption studies is presented. It has been designed with a focus on easy handling and the usability of established cell cultivation techniques in standard well plate inserts. The platform consists of a microfluidic device, which accommodates a well plate insert with pre-cultivated cells, and provides a fluid flow with dynamic drug dilution profiles. A low-cost single-board computer with a touchscreen was used as a control unit. This provides a graphical user interface, controls the syringe pump flow rates, and records the transepithelial electrical resistance. It thereby enables automated parallel testing in multiple devices at the same time. To demonstrate functionality, an MDCK cell layer was used as a model for an epithelial barrier for drug permeation testing. This confirms the possibility of performing absorption studies on barrier tissues under conditions close to those in vivo. Therefore, a further reduction in animal experiments can be expected.

We report on a miniaturized, exchangeable drug delivery cartridge for Parkinson's Disease which is integrated in a partial removable prosthesis. An osmotic pumping principle uses saliva to release constantly a separately stored drug to the buccal mucosa, thus avoiding first pass metabolism and drug plasma level fluctuations. Therapeutic relevant information and fill level of the cartridge can be determined before and after usage with an external readout station. The selected material combinations of the cartridge fulfill both, functional and regulatory aspects as well as requirements for assembly and packaging, e.g. thermal fusion bonding, solvent bonding and capillary stop bonding. By using the cartridge, highly precise release rates over 97% of its storage capacity with a rate deviation of only 1.1% can be achieved.