Takashi Kuroiwa

Industrial lab-on-a-chip: Design, applications and scale-up for drug discovery and delivery

Microfluidics is an emerging and promising interdisciplinary technology which offers powerful platforms for precise production of novel functional materials (e.g., emulsion droplets, microcapsules, and nanoparticles as drug delivery vehicles- and drug molecules) as well as high-throughput analyses (e.g., bioassays, detection, and diagnostics). In particular, multiphase microfluidics is a rapidly growing technology and has beneficial applications in various fields including biomedicals, chemicals, and foods. In this review, we first describe the fundamentals and latest developments in multiphase microfluidics for producing biocompatible materials that are precisely controlled in size, shape, internal morphology and composition. We next describe some microfluidic applications that synthesize drug molecules, handle biological substances and biological units, and imitate biological organs. We also highlight and discuss design, applications and scale up of droplet- and flow-based microfluidic devices used for drug discovery and delivery.

Factors affecting the composition of oligosaccharides produced in chitosan hydrolysis using immobilized chitosanases.

The hydrolysis reaction of chitosan using immobilized chitosanases with regard to the composition of its products and the yield of the intermediate target products, pentamer and hexamer of chitosan oligosaccharides, was investigated. Chitosanase was immobilized onto agar or agarose gel particles by the multipoint attachment method. In batch experiments, surface enzyme density, support particle size, temperature, agitator speed, and initial substrate concentration significantly affected the composition of the oligosaccharides produced. It was believed that these factors all related to the reaction rate and mass transfer rate at the surface of the support materials immobilizing the enzymes. These effects were summarized as a correlation with Damköhler number ( Da), defined as the ratio of the maximum reaction rate to the maximum mass transfer rate. The result showed that the reaction conditions that give a low value of Da provide a high yield of pentamer and hexamer oligosaccharides.

Temperature-sensitive nonionic vesicles prepared from Span 80 (sorbitan monooleate).

Different types of nonionic vesicles were prepared from commercial Span 80 (also called sorbitan monooleate), as an inexpensive, biocompatible alternative to conventional phospholipid-based vesicles (liposomes). The vesicles were characterized by different techniques and comparison was made with vesicles formed from POPC (1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl- sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) or DOPC (1,2-dioleoyl- sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine). Dynamic light scattering measurements, electron microscopy analyses, and two types of fusion assays indicate that Span 80 vesicles are stable for at least 7 days at 4 or 25 degrees C, while storage at 42 degrees C causes irreversible vesicle fusion. This indicates that Span 80 vesicles are thermoresponsive with vesicle fusion occurring at elevated temperature. This property may be related to headgroup dehydration and is certainly not directly linked to the phase transition temperature (Tm) of the vesicles, since the Tm is below -30 degrees C, as determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The measured Tm value for Span 80 vesicles is lower than in the case of DOPC or POPC, correlating with a higher fluidity of Span 80 vesicles as compared to POPC or DOPC vesicles, as determined with DPH (1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene) as fluorescent membrane probe. High fluidity correlates with increased leakage of entrapped water-soluble dye molecules. Addition of cholesterol and soybean phosphatidylcholine lowers the extent of leakage, allowing a tuning of the bilayer permeability.

Immobilization and stabilization of chitosanase by multipoint attachment to agar gel support.

Highly stable chitosanase immobilized on an agar gel support was prepared by the multipoint attachment method. The optimum pH range was broadened to between 4 and 6, whereas for free chitosanase, the pH was only 5.6. The optimum temperature was also increased from 60 degrees C to 80 degrees C after the immobilization. The activity of immobilized chitosanase remained at 95% of its initial activity level after 225 h of incubation at 50 degrees C, whereas for free chitosanase, it decreased to 20% after 1 h of incubation. The immobilization markedly increased the thermostability of chitosanase. These changes in the reaction characteristics are favorable for the practical use of chitosanase in industrial processes. The effect of glycidol concentration in the activation of agar gel was also examined. The surface density of the aldehyde residue increased with increasing glycidol concentration. A maximal activity of 11.9 U/g-support was obtained when the glycidol concentration was 0.7 M. At concentrations higher than this, thermostability was almost the same. It was therefore proven that the optimal glycidol concentration in this system is 0.7 M. The effects of glycidol concentration on the activity and the thermostability of chitosanase are discussed in relation to the number of covalent bonds between the chitosanase and its support. Chitosan oligosaccharides were continuously produced using a column reactor packed with the immobilized chitosanase. The percentage of hydrolyzed chitosan after 28 reaction days was 44%. This was a slight decrease from the 48% observed on the first day. The total concentration of pentamer and hexamer ranged from 1.3 mg/ml to 1.5 mg/ml during the 28 reaction days. This was approximately 30% of the chitosan concentration in the supplied substrate solution.

Formation of Biocompatible Nanoparticles via the Self‐Assembly of Chitosan and Modified Lecithin

The formation of biocompatible nanoparticles via the self-assembly of chitosan (CHI) and modified lecithin (ML) was studied. Stable nanoparticles in the size range of 123 to 350 nm were formed at over a wide molar mixing ratios of CHI/ML solutions (amino group/phosphate group) (NH(3) (+)/PO(3) (-)) and total polyelectrolyte (PE) concentrations (0.1 to 1 wt%) except at intermediate molar ratios when the surface charge was close to neutrality. Zeta-potentials of the nanoparticles were found to be independent of the total PE concentrations. Nanoparticles exhibited excellent stability at over an extended pH (pHs 3 to 6) and ionic strength range (< or = 500 mM NaCl concentration). The particle size and zeta-potential of the nanoparticles increased with the molecular weight of CHI. Transmission electron microscopy suggested that nanoparticles were generally spherical in shape with CHI constituting the exterior of its surface at high molar mixing ratios. Dextran-fluorescein isothiocyanate, bovine serum albumin, and Coomassie brilliant blue as models of nonionic, positively and negatively charged compounds were encapsulated within the nanoparticles at between 8.7% and 62.7% efficiency. The ability of the nanoparticle suspensions to be converted to lyophilized powder or concentrated suspension was also demonstrated.

Efficient preparation of giant vesicles as biomimetic compartment systems with high entrapment yields for biomacromolecules.

The ‘lipid‐coated ice‐droplet hydration method’ was applied for the preparation of milliliter volumes of a suspension of giant phospholipid vesicles containing in the inner aqueous vesicle pool in high yield either calcein, α‐chymotrypsin, fluorescently labeled bovine serum albumin or dextran (FITC‐BSA and FITC‐dextran; FITC=fluorescein isothiocyanate). The vesicles had an average diameter of ca. 7–11 μm and contained 20–50% of the desired molecules to be entrapped, the entrapment yield being dependent on the chemical structure of the entrapped molecules and on the details of the vesicle‐formation procedure. The ‘lipid‐coated ice droplet hydration method’ is a multistep process, based on i) the initial formation of a monodisperse water‐in‐oil emulsion by microchannel emulsification, followed by ii) emulsion droplet freezing, and iii) surfactant and oil removal, and replacement with bilayer‐forming lipids and an aqueous solution. If one aims at applying the method for the entrapment of enzymes, retention of catalytic activity is important to consider. With α‐chymotrypsin as first model enzyme to be used with the method, it was shown that high retention of enzymatic activity is possible, and that the entrapped enzyme molecules were able to catalyze the hydrolysis of a membrane‐permeable substrate which was added to the vesicles after their formation. Furthermore, one of the critical steps of the method that leads to significant release of the molecules from the water droplets was investigated and optimized by using calcein as fluorescent probe.

Formulation and stabilization of nano-/microdispersion systems using naturally occurring edible polyelectrolytes by electrostatic deposition and complexation

This review paper presents an overview of the formulation and functionalization of nano-/microdispersion systems composed of edible materials. We first summarized general aspects on the stability of colloidal systems and the roles of natural polyelectrolytes such as proteins and ionic polysaccharides for the formation and stabilization of colloidal systems. Then we introduced our research topics on (1) stabilization of emulsions by the electrostatic deposition using natural polyelectrolytes and (2) formulation of stable nanodispersion systems by complexation of natural polyelectrolytes. In both cases, the preparation procedures were relatively simple, without high energy input or harmful chemical addition. The properties of the nano-/microdispersion systems, such as particle size, surface charge and dispersion stability were significantly affected by the concerned materials and preparation conditions, including the type and concentration of used natural polyelectrolytes. These dispersion systems would be useful for developing novel foods having high functionality and good stability.

FORMULATION OF LIPID MICRO/NANODISPERSION SYSTEMS

This chapter presents an overview of the authors’ recent investigations into the formulation of lipid micro/nanodispersion systems by top-down and bottom-up approaches. It describes Microchannel (MC) emulsification, developed by the authors’ research group and focuses on the fundamentals of MC emulsification, MC emulsification devices, and the formulation of lipid microdispersions using MC emulsification and demonstrates that lipid micro/nanodispersions with precisely controlled droplet/particle sizes and/or unique interfacial properties can be formulated by a top-down approach, a bottom-up approach, or a combination of both. MC emulsification, a top-down approach, is a promising technique to produce lipid monodisperse single and multiple emulsions. Practically, MC emulsification is also a robust process, since the droplet size and its distribution of the resultant emulsions are basically insensitive to the flow of the dispersed and continuous phases. Monodisperse emulsions obtained by MC emulsification are useful templates for formulating monodisperse microparticles, microcapsules, and giant vesicles. The chapter demonstrates the controlled formulation of lipid-based nanodispersions by top-down and bottom-up approaches. The lipid micro/nanodispersions discussed in the chapter have the potential for food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic applications. Scale-up of their formulation processes, including MC emulsification devices could lead to a range of novel food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic products.

Hydration-aggregation pretreatment for drastically improving esterification activity of commercial lipases in non-aqueous media

We investigated a novel, simple method for activating lipases in non-aqueous reaction media. Lipase powders were suspended in n-fatty alcohols and were then hydrated by adding a small amount of water. A paste-like aggregate was recovered from the mixture followed by lyophilization for obtaining activated lipases as dry powders. Lipase activity was evaluated for esterification between myristic acid and methanol in n-hexane. The activated lipases exhibited high esterification activity depending on the experiment conditions during hydration-aggregation pretreatment such as the amount of added water, the temperature, the pH of added buffer solutions, and the carbon chain length of the n-fatty alcohols used as pretreatment solvents. Various commercial lipases from different origins could be activated by this method. Changes in lipase conformation induced by the hydration-aggregation pretreatment were studied based on fluorescence and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy.

Freeze-dryable lipid vesicles with size tunability and high encapsulation efficiency prepared by the multiple emulsification-solvent evaporation method

We investigated the extent of potential applicability of our recently developed method for preparing lipid vesicles [T. Kuroiwa et al., J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc., 93 (2016) 421], designated as the multiple emulsification-solvent evaporation method, with the intention of controlling the vesicle diameter and achieving high entrapment efficiency for water-soluble compounds. Using this method, the diameter of lipid vesicles could be varied by selecting the methods for preparing the primary water-in-oil emulsion, which contained water droplets as templates for the internal water phases of lipid vesicles. We obtained lipid vesicles with mean diameters of 0.2-4.4μm from water-in-oil-in-water multiple emulsions after solvent evaporation. A high entrapment yield of calcein, a water-soluble fluorescent dye, into the lipid vesicles was obtained for each vesicle sample, depending on their diameter and the type of emulsifier added to the external water phase. The use of polymeric emulsifier was more effective in achieving a high entrapment yield. The obtained lipid vesicles were powderized via freeze-drying. Vesicles could be powderized while maintaining their original diameter, as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. Furthermore, the powderized vesicles could be rehydrated and resuspended without significant change in their diameter. However, the entrapment yield of calcein decreased after freeze-drying and rehydration. The calcein leakage during the freeze-drying followed by rehydration could be suppressed by adding an appropriate amount of trehalose as a lyoprotectant.