Patent ID: 8329070

Claim:
An apparatus for producing a lipid vesicle encapsulating a nucleic acid within the lipid vesicle, said apparatus comprising: a first reservoir for holding an aqueous solution including a nucleic acid; a second reservoir for holding an organic lipid solution, wherein the lipids present in said organic lipid solution are solubilized in a lower alkanol at a concentration of about 75% v/v to 100% v/v; and a pump mechanism configured to pump said aqueous solution and said organic lipid solution into a mixing environment at about equal flow rates; wherein said organic lipid solution mixes with said aqueous solution in the mixing environment to instantaneously produce a lipid vesicle encapsulating the nucleic acid within the lipid vesicle by diluting said lower alkanol to a concentration of between 45% v/v to about 60% v/v; and wherein the mixing environment includes a T-connector, wherein said aqueous solution and said organic lipid solution are introduced into the T-connector as opposing flows at about 180° relative to each other and mixed within the T-connector.