5112.SH.JN - High Yield Electrospinning System

A team at the School of Clinical Dentistry have developed a novel microfiber-based mucoadhesive oral matrix that can deliver drugs and advanced therapeutics directly to the oral mucosa. This technology is highly acceptable to patients and has been evaluated for clinical use in human studies. The team at Sheffield are world leading. We have reported that such matrices can incorporate and release a range of lipophilic, low molecular mass compounds that rapidly diffuse throughout the mucosa following release and without loss of properties. Moreover, we have incorporated larger macromolecules such as peptides and proteins and achieved high loading efficiency, rapid release profiles and retention of functional activity. The patches are prepared using electrospinning, a versatile, voltage-driven manufacturing technique that uses electrostatic forces to draw and stretch polymer solutions or melts into continuous micro- and nanofibers. Electrospinning offers the production of patches that are flexible, enabling them to conform to wet, curved and dynamic surfaces. Furthermore, their high surface-to-volume ratio facilitates efficient drug loading/release and sustained mucoadhesive interactions, leading to prolonged tissue residence time. The team have recently secured a UKRI Engineering Biology Mission Award for the adaptation of the technology for mRNA vaccine delivery. For this award we require a high yield electrospinning system.