Formulation of dispersed systems via (melt) emulsification: Process design, in situ diagnostics and regulation

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Knut Graichen; Dr.-Ing. Franz Huber; Privatdozent Dr. Jochen Schmidt
• Subject Area: Mechanical Process Engineering
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 504809428

This project aims at the further development of a (melt-)emulsification (ME) process for the production of solid lipid nanoparticles and submicron sized core-shell particles in combination with online/in situ diagnostics and automated control. In the first funding period, a novel in situ diagnostic system, namely broadband elastic light scattering (BELS), and a predictive control scheme have been developed and applied on the ME device for adjustment of a desired particle size distribution (PSD). The major goal in this second funding period is the extension of the ME approach to a process chain for the production of core-shell particles with defined core size and shell thickness, relevant e.g., to tune drug release kinetics in pharmaceutical formulations. Focus will especially be put on the optimization of efficient formulation of core-shell particle systems, the further development of the BELS-diagnostic to measure PSDs of coated particles and the development of a two-dye fluorescence-absorption technique to measure coating efficiency. Moreover, suitable hybrid physics/data-based models and uncertainty-aware predictive control for the core-shell particle formation are developed.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 2364: Autonomous processes in particle technology - Research and testing of concepts for model-based control of particulate processes