The strategic alliance is focusing on offering advanced formulation and nanotechnology services to develop, analyse and commercialise active pharmaceutical ingredients (API).
In the short term the collaboration will entail PSI boosting its high-shear fluid processing capabilities by installing Microfluidizer, the benefits of which were explained by Robert Lee, vice president of pharmaceutical development at Particle Sciences.
Lee said: “One area of interest to PSI is adding the Microfluidizer processor to its existing approaches for particle size reduction of poorly water-soluble APIs to the submicron range, which is an increasingly important formulation approach for pharmaceutical API development."
PSI believes the addition of the Microfluidizer to its equipment allows it to offer clients a uniquely comprehensive service offering. The Microfluidizer installed by PSI was launched in January and was designed for laboratory work, clinical trials, and small volume production needs.
At the launch David Gucwa, Microfluidics’ product manager, commented: “This series of processors is perfect for those doing process development work and will allow them to achieve consistency from product development to full production, with guaranteed scale-up.”
The Microfluidizer installed by PSI, which can produce nano-suspensions and emulsions, has a minimum batch size of 200ml and is capable of going up to several gallons.
Microfluidics Reaction Technology (MRT), a tool for bottom-up nanoparticle creation and nanoencapsulation, will also be added by PSI.
This performs the nano tasks using continuous crystallisation and chemical reactions, processes which PSI believes broaden the scope of novel drug development.