Deformable Nanovesicles Synthesized through an Adaptable Microfluidic Platform for Enhanced Localized Transdermal Drug Delivery

Figure 2

Transmission electron and confocal micrographs of AF647-Zol-loaded NV/DNVs synthesized in a microfluidic reactor. Shown are (a) a conventional NV and (b) an AF647-Zol-loaded DNV, both produced by our modified microfluidic method, viewed at 72,000x. In (c), an AF647-Zol-loaded DNV produced by the standard microfluidic method that underwent lyophilization, storage at 277 K, and resuspension produced by the regular microfluidic method is viewed at 100,000x. Images were obtained using a uranyl acetate stain and copper mesh background on a JEOL 100CX transmission electron microscope. Estimated diameters are (a) 246 nm, (b) 241 nm, and (c) 298 nm. Colloidal solutions of AF647-Zol-loaded NVs and DNVs in (d) and (e), respectively, were imaged by confocal laser microscopy using a Leica TCS SP5 microscope following dialysis, lyophilization, and resuspension. The largest DNV depicted is estimated to be ~400 nm in diameter, and the vesicles are quite homogenous in size. The fluorescent drug is contained only within the NVs and DNVs and is not in solution, confirming stability.