Liposomal apparatus and manufacturing methods
AssigneeArbutus Biopharma Corporation
InventorsIan MacLachlan, Lloyd B. Jeffs, Lorne R. Palmer, Cory Giesbrecht
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Abstract
The present invention provides apparatus and processes for producing liposomes. By providing a buffer solution in a first reservoir, and a lipid solution in a second reservoir, continuously diluting the lipid solution with the buffer solution in a mixing chamber produces a liposome. The lipid solution preferably comprises an organic solvent, such as a lower alkanol.
Claims20
A process for producing a lipid vesicle encapsulating one or more therapeutic agents within the lipid vesicle, said process comprising:
- providing an aqueous solution in a first reservoir;
- providing an organic lipid solution in a second reservoir, wherein the lipids present in said organic lipid solution are solubilized in a lower alkanol at a concentration of about 75% v/v to 100% v/v, wherein said aqueous solution and/or said organic lipid solution comprises one or more therapeutic agents, and wherein said one or more therapeutic agents is selected from the group consisting of a nucleic acid, a protein, an antigen, paclitaxel, protax III, taxol, and mixtures thereof;
- and
- mixing said organic lipid solution with said aqueous solution by introducing said organic lipid solution and said aqueous solution into a mixing environment at about equal flow rates;
- wherein said mixing instantaneously produces a lipid vesicle encapsulating said one or more therapeutic agents within the lipid vesicle by diluting said lower alkanol to a concentration of between 45% v/v to about 60% v/v;
- wherein the mixing environment includes a mixing chamber, wherein said aqueous solution and said organic lipid solution are introduced into the mixing chamber at an angle of between about 27° and about 180° relative to each other and mixed within the mixing chamber;
- and
- wherein said lipid vesicle has a diameter of about 150 nm or less.
An apparatus for producing a lipid vesicle encapsulating one or more therapeutic agents within the lipid vesicle, said apparatus comprising:
- a first reservoir for holding an aqueous solution;
- a second reservoir for holding an organic lipid solution, wherein the lipids present in said organic lipid solution are solubilized in a lower alkanol at a concentration of about 75% v/v to 100% v/v, wherein said aqueous solution and/or said organic lipid solution comprises one or more therapeutic agents, and wherein said one or more therapeutic agents is selected from the group consisting of a nucleic acid, a protein, an antigen, paclitaxel, protax III, taxol, and mixtures thereof;
- and
- a pump mechanism configured to pump said aqueous solution and said organic lipid solution into a mixing environment at about equal flow rates;
- wherein said organic lipid solution mixes with said aqueous solution in the mixing environment to instantaneously produce a lipid vesicle encapsulating said one or more therapeutic agents within the lipid vesicle by diluting said lower alkanol to a concentration of between 45% v/v to about 60% v/v;
- wherein the mixing environment includes a mixing chamber, wherein said aqueous solution and said organic lipid solution are introduced into the mixing chamber at an angle of between about 27° and about 180° relative to each other and mixed within the mixing chamber;
- and
- wherein said lipid vesicle has a diameter of about 150 nm or less.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.