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Particle size and shape effects in medical syringe needles: experiments and simulations for polymer microparticle injection

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Abstract

Injection of polymeric microparticles is the final step in the drug delivery process. Experience has shown that blockage of the syringe mechanism can be a problem under certain conditions leading to poor control of the final product. Particle size and shape are postulated to be significant factors. In this article 2D Discrete element model (DEM) simulations of circles and semi-circles are used to demonstrate the effect of shape on blockage of the syringe mechanism. To corroborate the calculations, a range of experiments on glass spheres and polymers show good agreement with simulations of normally distributed particle sizes. A similar scenario is also briefly modelled in 3D DEM showing similar trends.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (CASE Studentship BB/F018142/1) and Critical Pharmaceuticals for financial support in this project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK

    Mark A. Whitaker & Steven M. Howdle

  2. Faculty of Engineering, Chemical and Environmental Research Division, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK

    Paul Langston & Barry J. Azzopardi

  3. Critical Pharmaceuticals Limited, BioCity Nottingham, Pennyfoot Street, Nottingham, NG1 1GF, UK

    Andrew Naylor

Authors
  1. Mark A. Whitaker
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  2. Paul Langston
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  3. Andrew Naylor
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  4. Barry J. Azzopardi
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  5. Steven M. Howdle
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Correspondence to Steven M. Howdle.

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Whitaker, M.A., Langston, P., Naylor, A. et al. Particle size and shape effects in medical syringe needles: experiments and simulations for polymer microparticle injection. J Mater Sci: Mater Med 22, 1975–1983 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-011-4359-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-011-4359-7

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