The use of supercritical fluids in the production of particles in microfluidic systems is generally described.
Small particles with narrow particle size distributions are useful in a wide range of applications. Submicron and micron-sized organic particles may exhibit enhanced properties such as, for example, increased
dissolution rates, enhanced pharmaceutical
efficacy, and ease of suspension in a carrier medium. Small organic particles may be particularly useful in
drug delivery, exhibiting enhanced performance as
inhalation aerosols, injectable suspensions,
controlled release dosage drugs, transdermally delivered drugs, and the like.Supercritical fluids exhibit unique transport properties such as the ability to simultaneously diffuse through solids (e.g., like a gas) and dissolve materials (e.g., like a liquid). Moreover, supercritical fluids are generally low in
viscosity, enabling an enhanced ability to mix with other fluids, for example, upon transitioning from a supercritical to a non-supercritical state. The inventors have unexpectedly discovered that, when used in combination with microfluidic systems, supercritical fluids may be used to continuously and controllably nucleate particle precursor materials to produce, in some embodiments, nano- and microscale particles.