Patent ID: 8715591

Claim:
A microfluidic apparatus for producing laminar flow for the formation of liposomes of uniform size having a mean diameter of 40 nanometers to 300 nanometers with a standard deviation of less than 10% for liposomes having a diameter smaller than 80 nm, comprised of: a substrate including a lipid channel through which a miscible lipid stream flows wherein said lipid channel having a channel depth to width ratio of greater than 2 to 1 and; wherein said lipid channel has a volumetric flow rate between 0.1 microliter/minute and 1 milliliter/minute resulting in a non-overlapping flow stream; a laminar flow delivery compound channel having a channel depth to width ratio of greater than 2 to 1 and through which a miscible delivery compound stream flows; a laminar flow buffer channel having a channel depth to width ratio of greater than 2 to 1 and through which a miscible buffer stream flows; a laminar flow reaction which includes a convective diffusing mixing interface; wherein loading efficiency may be varied by adjusting the ratio of the volumetric flow rate through said buffer channel and said delivery compound channel; at least one liposome outlet channel; and at least one waste channel; wherein said lipid channel, said delivery compound channel, said buffer channel, said liposome outlet channel, and said at least one waste channel are of dimensions that support laminar flow; and a sealing component bonded to the top surface of said substrate.