Polymeric Nanoparticles functionalization employing Flash Nanoprecipitation (FNP)

Funded by the Faculty of Natural Sciences, NTNU, Particle Engineering Centre (PEC), NTNU, Department of Chemical Engineering, NTNU

Polymeric nanoparticles are versatile platforms for drug delivery, gene therapy, and biomedical imaging, owing to their tunable properties, biodegradability, and ability to encapsulate both hydrophobic and hydrophilic payloads. This ongoing PhD project focuses on producing functionalized polymeric nanoparticles via flash nanoprecipitation (FNP), a rapid, scalable method offering precise control over size, encapsulation, and surface functionality.

A central challenge is the "Ouzo effect" — the spontaneous, surfactant-free formation of monodisperse nanoparticles within a narrow region of the polymer–solvent–antisolvent phase diagram. Above a critical solute concentration (the "Ouzo boundary"), this typically breaks down into macroscopic phase separation, limiting scalability. While FNP can push this boundary further than conventional nanoprecipitation, the role of mixing and hydrodynamics in polymeric systems remains poorly understood.

The project aims to build a mechanistic understanding of nanoparticle formation in FNP to optimize encapsulation strategies for biomedical use. This includes mapping the Ouzo and spinodal phase boundaries across different polymer–solvent systems, investigating the encapsulation of hydrophilic iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) and drugs within polymeric shells, and evaluating the resulting polymer-coated IONPs for applications in magnetic hyperthermia and drug delivery — including their magnetic behavior, cellular uptake, and heating efficiency.

By combining modelling, formulation studies, and in-situ characterization, the project aims to design scalable, tunable nanocarrier platforms with controlled properties, supporting more effective drug delivery systems for future clinical use.