Principal Investigator Alfredo Alexander-Katz
Project Website http://isnweb.mit.edu/project-2.2.1.html
The unique integration of a dual multi-scale computational and experimental model with nano-materials and microfluidics provides the scientific basis towards to the development of an ultra-portable platform for long term storage and extremely rapid reconstitution. Rapid Reconstitution Packages (RRPs) represents a breakthrough platform that will allow the use of drugs without refrigeration. Convergence of these unique technologies allows exploitation of physical processes at the nanometer and micrometer scales to investigate the lyophilization and reconstitution processes. The RRPs will be developed as auto-injectors and cartridges, which fit into standard syringes, keeping drugs in lyophilized (powder) form for years and perform on demand reconstitution in the order of milliseconds. Particular attention is given to drugs that are required for field deployment and today cannot be practically refrigerated due to the nature of the military missions. The use of RRPs will result in significant improvement in logistics for all branches of the U.S. Military. We believe that the Army will greatly benefit from this research work as several scientific breakthroughs will be translated directly to enhancing soldier survivability.