Continuous Production of Immunoliposomes using a Microvalve-controlled Microfluidic Device (μFD)

Abstract

Department of Food Science and Technology, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do 712-749, KoreaReceived May 12, 2013, Accepted July 8, 2013Immunoliposomes (antibody-conjugated liposomes) are highly useful as both a drug carrier in drug deliveryand as a reporting probe in immunodiagnostics. However, antibody conjugation is lengthy and cumbersome,because this includes several steps such as derivatization of the antibody, conjugation of the derivatizedantibody to liposomes, and separation of the unbound antibodies from immunoliposomes. Recently, liposomepreparation steps have simplified by using microfluidic devices (µFDs) where liposomes are formed when astream of lipids in solvent is hydrodynamically focused between two oblique buffer streams in a microchannel.Herein, we report a simple method for the production of immunoliposomes (rabbit IgG-conjugated liposomes)using microvalve-controlled µFD. The presence of antibody on the liposome was verified by observing thebinding of immunoliposomes to rabbit IgG on the surface. The results suggest that immunoliposomes can beeasily prepared through sequential mixing of antibody, conjugation reagents, preformed liposomes usingmicrovalve-controlled µFD.Key Words : Liposomes, Immunoliposomes, Microfluidic device, SRBIntroductionLiposomes can be described as spherical vesicles consist-ing of one or more phospholipid bilayers surrounding anaqueous cavity. Their main application is drug delivery fortargeting particular types of cells, such as cancer cells.