A method to generate homogenous and stable inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) using a microfluidic device with two jet inlets.

Inorganic nanoparticles have promise as contrast agents and therapeutics due to their high renal clearance and therefore low toxicity. However, they are limited by factors including complex synthesis routes with unfavorable conditions and low yields.

This method addresses existing challenges with inorganic nanoparticle synthesis, such as low throughput and complex synthesis routes, by being a one-step, aqueous phase synthesis method that can be carried out in ambient conditions.

The inventors use a confined impinging jet mixer (CIJM) microfluidic device to mix two components to form ultrasmall inorganic NPs. Four different model inorganic NPs (silver sulfide, silver telluride, cerium oxide, and iron oxide) are produced, where NP core size and quenching volume are adjustable parameters, depending on the type of NP. The method was evaluated for scalability by modifying inlet component flow rates using pressurized vessels connected to a nitrogen tank. This allowed the rapid generation of 1L of a model NP in 15 minutes.

• 1 L of nanoparticles can be rapidly generated in 15min (model nanoparticle: Ag2S)
• Ag-based NPs displayed significantly higher attenuation in contrast enhanced mammography (CEM) and micro-CT (µCT) compared to the current clinical standard, Iopamidol, which represents a greater signal:noise ratio using these NPs.