Issue 12, 2022

In-line measurement of liquid–liquid phase separation boundaries using a turbidity-sensor-integrated continuous-flow microfluidic device

Abstract

Liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS), also known as oiling-out, is the appearance of the second liquid phase preceding the crystallization. LLPS is an undesirable phenomenon that can occur during the crystallization of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), proteins, and polymers. It is typically avoided during crystallization due to its detrimental impacts on crystalline products due to lowered crystallization rate, the inclusion of impurities, and alteration in particle morphology and size distribution. In situ monitoring of phase separation enables investigating LLPS and identifying the phase separation boundaries. Various process analytical technologies (PATs) have been implemented to determine the LLPS boundaries prior to crystallization to prevent oiling out of compounds. The LLPS measurements using PATs can be time-consuming, expensive, and challenging. Here, we have implemented a fully integrated continuous-flow microfluidic device with a turbidity sensor to quickly and accurately evaluate the LLPS boundaries for a β-alanine, water, and IPA mixture. The turbidity-sensor-integrated continuous-flow microfluidic device is also placed under an optical microscope to visually track and record the appearance and disappearance of oil droplets. Streams of an aqueous solution of β-alanine, pure solvent (water), and pure antisolvent (IPA or ethanol) are pumped into the continuous-flow microfluidic device at various flow rates to obtain the compositions at which the solution becomes turbid. The onset of turbidity is measured using a custom-designed, in-line turbidity sensor. The LLPS boundaries can be estimated using the turbidity-sensor-integrated microfluidic device in less than 30 min, which will significantly improve and enhance the workflow of the pharmaceutical drug (or crystalline material) development process.

Graphical abstract: In-line measurement of liquid–liquid phase separation boundaries using a turbidity-sensor-integrated continuous-flow microfluidic device

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
09 Dec 2021
Accepted
11 Apr 2022
First published
22 Apr 2022

Lab Chip, 2022,22, 2299-2306

In-line measurement of liquid–liquid phase separation boundaries using a turbidity-sensor-integrated continuous-flow microfluidic device

P. Coliaie, A. Prajapati, R. Ali, M. Boukerche, A. Korde, M. S. Kelkar, N. K. Nere and M. R. Singh, Lab Chip, 2022, 22, 2299 DOI: 10.1039/D1LC01112J

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements