Charge-Reduced Particles via Self-Propelled Electrohydrodynamic Atomization for Drug Delivery Applications

Electrohydrodynamic atomization (EHDA) provides unparalleledcontrolover the size and production rate of particles from solution. However,conventional methods produce highly charged particles that are notappropriate for inhalation drug delivery. We present a self-propelledEHDA system to address this challenge, a promising one-step platformfor generating and delivering charge-reduced particles. Our approachuses a sharp electrode to produce ion wind, which reduces the cumulativecharge in the particles and transports them to a target in front ofthe nozzle. We effectively controlled the morphologies of polymerproducts created from poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) at variousconcentrations. Our technique has also been proven safe for bioapplications,as evidenced by the delivery of PVDF particles onto breast cancercells. The combination of simultaneous particle production and chargereduction, along with its direct delivery capability, makes the self-propelledEHDA a versatile technique for drug delivery applications.

Automated summary

Electrohydrodynamic atomization (EHDA) is a precise method for controlling particle size and production rate, but the highly charged particles generated by conventional methods are not suitable for inhalation drug delivery. Researchers have developed a self-propelled EHDA system that can generate and deliver charge-reduced particles in one step. This system uses a sharp electrode to create ion wind, reducing the cumulative charge in the particles and transporting them to a target position. The technique has shown effective control over the morphologies of polymer products and has been proven safe for bioapplications, making it a versatile tool for drug delivery.