PRODUCTION OF NANOPARTICLES

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and to a method for production, especially continuous production, of nanoparticles, including a line to convey water with a predeterminable flow velocity and a system arranged orthogonally to the line for introducing at least one dissolved substance into the line for producing the nanoparticles.

Claims

1. An apparatus for continuous production of nanoparticles, the apparatus comprising: a line adapted to convey water at a flow velocity; and an introduction system arranged at an angle to the line and configured to introduce at least one dissolved substance into the line such that nanoparticles are producing in the flowing water.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one dissolved substance is a surface active sub stance.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the introduction system comprises a pipette tip, a tube or a capillary.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the introduction system arranged at an orthogonal angle to the line.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the introduction system comprises at least two systems, each configured to introduce at least one dissolved substance, wherein a first system is configured to introduce a first dissolved substance and a second system is configured to introduce a second dissolved substance.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the second system at least partially coaxially surrounds the first system.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first system and the second system are fluidically connected together.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one substance of the at least one dissolved substance is a polymer, a medicine, a DNA, an RNA, a protein or a mixture, wherein the mixtures includes the at least one substance and a transport medium.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one pump adapted to effect the flow velocity of the water and/or to introduce the at least one substance into the line via the introduction system at an introduction speed.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the line includes a region in which the introduction system is arranged, wherein the line is configured in the region such that a flow profile in the region of the line is different relative to sections of the line outside the region.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the flow profile in the region is a turbulent flow profile.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the introduction system extends into the line to a penetration depth that is up to 50% of a diameter of the line.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a heating unit configured to set a temperature of the apparatus at least in a region in which the introduction system is arranged.

14. A method for continuous production of nanoparticles, the method comprising: conveying water in a line at a flow velocity; and introducing at least one dissolved substance into the line via an introduction system arranged at an angle to the line, the introduction system configured to introduce at least one dissolved substance into the line such that nanoparticles are producing in the flowing water.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one dissolved substance is introduced into the line such that the nanoparticles are produced by a precipitation method or by an emulsion method.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein flow velocity is a function of a desired size of the nanoparticles.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein a first substance and a second substance are introduced into the line via the introduction system, which comprises a first system and a second system, each configured to introduce dissolved substances into the line, wherein the second system at least partially coaxially surrounds the first system, and wherein a second introduction speed of the second substance is greater than or equal to a first introduction speed of the first substance.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising generating a turbulent flow profile in the line in a region of the line in which the introduction system is arranged.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising heating a region of the line in which the introduction system is arranged to a desired temperature.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein at least one substance of the at least one dissolved substance is a polymer, a medicine, a DNA, an RNA, a protein or a mixture, wherein the mixtures includes the at least one substance and a transport medium.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] The present disclosure will now be explained in greater detail based on the appended drawing, the figures of which show as follows:

[0038] FIGS. 1a and 1b show embodiments of an apparatus of the present disclosure having a line and a system for introducing the at least one substance;

[0039] FIG. 2 shows a further embodiment of an apparatus of the present disclosure having a line and a system for introducing the at least one substance;

[0040] FIGS. 3a-3c show embodiments of an apparatus of the present disclosure with two systems for introducing two substances;

[0041] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment for providing a turbulent flow profile in the region of the system; and

[0042] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the apparatus of the present disclosure with means to set a predeterminable temperature in the region of the system.

[0043] In the figures, equal elements are provided with equal reference characters.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] FIG. 1 shows two possible embodiments of an apparatus 1 of the invention having, in each case, a line 2 flowed through by water W and a system 3 arranged at a predeterminable angle, here, by way of example, orthogonally, to the line for introducing into the line 2 a dissolved substance S, which serves for production of the nanoparticles N. The substance S is, for example, a polymer, a medicine, a DNA, an RNA, a protein or a mixture, especially of one of these substances S and a transport means. The substance S is dissolved in a suitable solvent. The system 3 according to the embodiment of FIG. 1a includes a pipette tip, and according to the embodiment of FIG. 1b, in contrast, a capillary. The dissolved substance S is located in the system 3. Besides the two examples of embodiments for a system 3 in the sense of present invention, numerous other embodiments are possible, which likewise fall within the scope of the present invention.

[0045] Line 2 is flowed through by water W with a predeterminable flow velocity v. Line 2 is, for example, a hose or a pipeline. In the embodiment of FIG. 1a, the line has in the region of a wall an opening O, through which system 3 is introduced into the line 2. In the case of FIG. 1b, the line is composed of two line portions 2a, 2b, which are connected via the connecting piece 4. The system 3 is introduced into the line 2 via the connecting piece 4; in particular, via the opening O. The connecting piece is a T piece in the illustrated embodiment. It is, however, also possible in the context of the present invention to use other connecting pieces 4, for example, connection crosses, or elbows.

[0046] The nanoparticles N are produced by introduction of the substance S into the line 2. Preferably, a precipitation method or an emulsion method is used. Advantageously because of the continuous introduction of the dissolved substance S into the water conveying line 2, a uniform liquid spray effect occurs, which finely distributes the mixture, and, in the case of a precipitation method, for example, upon the decrease of the solvent concentration in the transverse flow, leads to precipitation. This solvent decrease is, in contrast to the case, in which a glass beaker is used, essentially identical for each introduced drop of the dissolved substance S. Advantageously, the nanoparticles N can be continuously produced with the present invention. Advantageously furthermore, application of an apparatus 1 of the invention enables direct connection with a clean-up unit (not shown) arranged in an end region of the line 2. The production of nanoparticles N can occur both with as well as also without application of surface active substances. Moreover, the substance S can be present both in a homogeneous as well as also in an inhomogeneous solution.

[0047] FIG. 2 shows another possible embodiment of an apparatus 1 of the invention. In supplementation of the variants shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus 1 of FIG. 2 has a reservoir 7, which contains a supply of the dissolved substance S, and a pump 6a and a supply line 5 connected to the system 3 for introducing the substance S into the line 2. Arranged in the line 2 is another pump 6b, which serves to set the predeterminable flow velocity v. Arranged at the end of the line 2, furthermore, is a collection vessel 8 for receiving the formed nanoparticles. These additional components are, however, not absolutely necessary. Alternatively only one or a selection of the components supplementally shown in FIG. 2 can be used. Also, an option is, for example, that at least two pumps 6 are arranged in the region of the line 2 and/or in the region of the system 3.

[0048] In other embodiments, the apparatus 1 of the invention includes two systems 3a, 3b for introducing at least two substances S1 and S2 into the line 2. Two examples of such variants of the present invention are shown in FIG. 3. Thus, shown in FIG. 3a are two equally constructed systems 3a, 3b, each of which corresponds to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1a. In such case, the two substances S1 and S2 are introduced into the line 2 offset from one another.

[0049] In the case of the embodiment of FIG. 3b, in contrast, the second system 3b surrounds the first system 3a coaxially. In this way, the two substances S1 and S2 are first mixed with one another, before they reach the line 2. In the case of a precipitation process, it is possible, in this manner, for example, to prevent a premature precipitation of the substances S1, S2. This construction is shown in greater detail in FIG. 3c.

[0050] The second system 3b coaxially surrounds the first system 3a and is fluidically connected with the first system 3a. The opening OA of the first system 3a communicates with an internal volume of the second system 3b. Thus, the first substance S1 is introduced into the second substance S2 at the junction J. The two substances S1, S2 are then introduced into the line through the second opening OB. Advantageously, the flow of the two substances S1, S2 at the junction J is straightened and stabilized supplementally by a concentric arrangement of the first system 3a relative to the second system 3b. In this way, a very uniform introduction of the substances S1, S2 into the line 2 can be assured. Other important parameters, which concern the type of introduction of the substances S1, S2 into the line 2, are the introduction speeds va and vb of the two substances S1, S2 into the two systems 3a, 3b. Thus, advantageously the second introduction speed vb for the second substance S2 is greater than or equal to the first introduction speed va for the first substance S1.

[0051] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of an apparatus 1 of the invention, which assures a turbulent flow profile in the region B surrounding the system 3. A turbulent flow profile in this region B leads to a tearing off of the at least one substance S and avoids an undesired droplet formation in the region of the line 2. Such a sectionally turbulent flow profile can be achieved in many different ways, for example, by a sectional change of the cross-sectional area of the line or by the introduction of a flow resistance, for example, in the form of a flow body, into the line. An especially easy way of producing a turbulent flow profile in the region B is shown in FIG. 4. The embodiment shown there corresponds largely to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1b. However, the system 3 protrudes to a penetration depth d into the line 2. This serves as a flow resistance for the system 3, so that a turbulent flow profile is present in the region B.

[0052] Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 5. This embodiment corresponds essentially to the variant illustrated in FIG. 1a. Additionally, the apparatus 1 of FIG. 5 includes, however, means 9 to set a predeterminable temperature T of the apparatus 1 in the region B. The means 9 to set the predeterminable temperature T comprises, for example, at least one heating unit for heating the region B and a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature T reigning in the region B.